Lagos State Arrest 200 Commercial Operators Over Registration

The Lagos State Vehicles Inspection Services (VIS) today arrested about 200 commercial bus drivers who have failed to register their vehicles as directed by the state government. The government gave commercial bus drivers 1 January deadline to register their vehicles.

AbdulHafiz Toriola, state Chief VIS Officer, said the arrest became necessary after the expiration of a two-month ultimatum to the drivers. “We started the enforcement since Jan. 1, when the ultimatum expired; this will continue except there is a contrary directive from the government. Most commercial motorists did not comply with the directive,” he said.

Toriola urged all commercial bus drivers in the state to comply with the registration to prevent impounding of their vehicles. According to him, every commercial vehicle driver without the state’s operation licence will be arrested.

Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Tajudeen Agbede, had on Monday appealed to the government to extend the ultimatum by two months. He explained that the extension would enable more drivers to comply with the directive.

Agbede made the appeal when he led more than 300 commercial bus drivers for the registration at the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute. He told the Chief Executive Officer of the institute, Ayodele Oyedokun, that two months was inadequate to get all commercial buses registered.

“I have directed all executive members across branches to come out for the registration. It is when the leaders register that we will be able to enforce it on members; there is no excuse for anybody, it is mandatory for all members to cooperate,” he said.

The Lagos State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers’ Association, Olorode  Adefowope, also said that the union was making efforts to ensure that all its members complied with the directive. Adefowope equally appealed for extension of the exercise.

Lagos State Ministry of Transportation began registration of commercial vehicles and their drivers on 1 November, 2013. Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said at a recent meeting with transport service providers in Lagos that the registration was for efficiency, safety, security and better services.

Lagos State Transport ministry also introduced the commuter bus routing scheme, commercial passenger vehicle licensing and corporate outlook (use of uniforms and badges) for transport operators.