NRSA proposes new law requiring towing subscriptions

The acting Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba says it has been proposed that a new legislation should be formulated vehicle owners to register with certified towing services before being permitted to use public roads.

Mr Amaliba made the disclosure during an interview on Citi FM on Wednesday, April 30, where he explained that the proposed regulation would be part of a new Legislative Instrument (LI) aimed at formalising the operations of commercial motorbikes, commonly referred to as Okada.

“When the law is passed, every owner of a vehicle must subscribe to a towing service or an insurance company so that when there’s a breakdown, you just call your subscriber to come to your aid,” he stated.

He noted that the measure is intended to address the widespread problem of abandoned, broken-down vehicles, which often lead to traffic congestion and pose road safety risks.

Under the proposal, if a towing service fails to respond within a specified period, ranging from 30 to 45 minutes, the NRSA will intervene and tow the vehicle, with the cost charged to the vehicle owner.

“The state would also be in readiness to ensure that after a number of minutes—sometimes 30 or 45—if the private towing services don’t come, then Road Safety would move in to tow it. But at a cost to the owner,” Mr Amaliba said.

He recalled that a previous attempt to introduce a compulsory towing levy was met with strong public resistance due to concerns about fairness and the decision to award the service to a single provider.

He said the new approach would give motorists the freedom to choose from a list of certified service providers.

In addition, Mr Amaliba stated that the new LI will require Okada riders to be part of recognised unions or cooperatives.

These unions, he explained, will be responsible for educating riders and ensuring compliance with basic safety standards and traffic regulations.

“The Okada you see today will not be the Okada that will be in place if the law is legalised. There will be a new phase. The unions themselves will have to provide some education,” he added.

The draft LI is expected to be submitted to Parliament in the coming weeks. If passed, it will form part of a broader push by the NRSA to enhance road safety regulations and reduce disruptions caused by abandoned vehicles and unregulated transport operators.