Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
The Lagos State Government has denied allegations that the newly introduced ‘no-vehicle inspection, no road-worthiness’ policy is an exercise targeted at generating revenue for the state government.
The policy was initiated by the state following the refusal of vehicle owners to bring their cars for testing as long as they have the certificate.
While speaking on the issue during a radio programme, the Director, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Engr. Akin-George Fashola, appealed to car owners in the State to come forward with their vehicles as the cost is already inclusive in the total package they paid for the renewal of vehicle particulars.
What the Director of Vehicle Inspection Service is saying
Fashola pointed out that the old format of issuing a roadworthiness certificate and then expecting the vehicle owners to bring their automobiles forward for inspection within 30 days is no longer sustainable as most people do not bring their vehicles for the said inspection once the certificate is issued.
The VIS boss said, “The referral note that we give when you come to us is just for a grace period that covers 30 days in which we expect you to have checked and fixed the vehicle. The referral note is not an automatic clearance.’’
Fashola further explained that the Vehicle Inspection Service is ramping up its capacity to accommodate more vehicles through the 27 fully-equipped centres with 30 more underway to cover up the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas. He added that a Mobile Testing Centre is also available for companies and owners of large fleets of vehicles.
He said, “You can go to any centre within the length and breadth of the State. Even if you do your first inspection on the Mainland and you had to do your second inspection on the Island, you have no problem because they are all connected up.’’
He also listed the locations of the existing 28 Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service centres to include Ayobo, Oko-Oba, PWD, Lagos Island, Agric-Ishawo, Owode-Onirin, Bolade-Oshodi, Oke- Odo, Epe, Ojodu, Gbagada, Coker-Aguda, Yaba and Ajah.
Others centres are Cele, Ibeju-Lekki, Odogunyan, Oko-Afo, Badagry, Ojota, Agbowa, Alausa, Anthony, Suru-Alaba, Omorege-Alaba, LASU, UNILAG, and a Mobile Centre.
Fashola commended motorists for their quick responses as recorded in the number of vehicle inspections conducted between Tuesday, January 4 and Friday, January 7, which totalled 388, as well as solicited for higher turnout from motorists and urged them to take advantage of easy accessibility of the centres for their vehicle inspections and services.
Recall that the Lagos State Government had earlier announced plans to commence the ‘No Inspection, No Certificate of Roadworthiness’ policy by January 2022, as part of the reforms in the transportation system in the state to help improve safety on all roads across the metropolis.
The new rule by the state government was made to help curb and reduce to the barest minimum the accident rate which had spiked in recent times.
