Expired Vehicle Documents: Lagos Seizes 27,500 Vehicles In 2 Months; Hosts South West VIOs

The Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs have, in the last two months impounded 27,500 vehicles for either invalid or expired particulars, using the newly introduced Auto-Inspector.

The Auto-Inspector was introduced by the state government two months ago to help in detecting vehicles with invalid or expired vehicle particulars without the necessary stop and search method.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, disclosed this on Tuesday while declaring open a three-day Conference of Directors/Chief Road Officers of South West, at the Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

The deputy governor stated that with the Auto-Inspector, the VIOs could stop vehicles on the road and immediately determine the name of the owner of the vehicle, the registration number, the date the vehicle was registered, colour and make.

“It also immediately discovers the vehicle particulars and the authenticity of the particulars, either genuine, fake or expired. It will also interest you to know that the VIOs, with the Auto-Inspector have impounded about 27,500 vehicles for either invalid or expired vehicle particulars since the device was launched.

“This electronic device has indeed made the operations of the VIOs stress-free and also ensured that VIOs are more effective and efficient,” she said.

Orelope-Adefulire called for cooperation among traffic regulators and inspection officers in the southwest, noting that this would assist in reducing traffic congestion, human and time management as well as reducing the number of lives lost to road accidents.

She said that traffic control and management in the region was becoming challenging by the day, due to population explosion and increased economic activities, stressing that only a common approach by the regulators within the region, in view of the similarities of governments’ policies and programmes could assist in curbing the challenges.

Orelope-Adefulire added that since road transport played a prominent role in the economy of the country, especially during this Yuletide, there was need for increased enlightenment and idea-sharing among traffic regulators with a view to reduce the number of road mishaps and casualties, which are usually on the increase during the festive period.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said the conference was organised to introduce Vehicle Inspection Officers to the new technologies involved in motor vehicle administration, adding that for them to remain relevant in the 21st Century, effort must be made to embrace the new innovations and trends.

Opeifa stated that since motor vehicle administration and licensing was not primarily for revenue generation but to ensure that motorists complied with the laws by obtaining genuine licences and particulars, government at all levels must create an avenue to also train and re-train inspection officers on the enabling laws to assist them in their duties.

Former Lagos Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, in his lecture noted that the constitution of the country was clear on the arm of government that should manage vehicle licensing and administration.

Banire, admonished Vehicle Inspection Officers to project a good image of themselves and the organisation they represent by treating motorists with courtesy even while going about their normal business of traffic law enforcement.

— Kazeem Ugbodaga