Residents, transport unions and motorists express big relief at the recent ban of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from Lagos roads
Many Lagos residents were unanimous last week in commending the state government for the permanent ban of Vehicle Inspection Officers (V.I.O.) of the Lagos ministry of Transport, saying that it would ease the flow of traffic on the roads.
The VIOs were accused of engaging in illegalities at the expense of the citizens. Some of their wrongs were listed as illegal road blocks; obstructing the flow of traffic through illegal vehicle checks on the roads, mostly at bends and other spots that are difficult to maneuver; abandonment of their duties of inspecting vehicles before registering and renewing licenses, extorting money from motorists, among other ills.
A motorist also accused them of wanton seizure of vehicles even for minor offences, even for one day expiration of a vehicle license or other papers.
Mojeed Olarewaju, a banker on the island who lives in the Ikeja area of the state said to avoid the VIOs who were always present at two spots along his way, he resorted to using a longer alternative route for the past two years.
Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Lagos State Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), told NAN that the ban of the VIOs on Lagos roads would bring positive change to gridlocks across the state.
“The ban is a welcome development and will allow free flow of traffic across the state.
“At times, some of the traffic congestions that motorists encounter are due to the activities of the VIOs on the roads.
“Many times, traffic stalls and builds up while the VIO personnel are checking vehicle particulars on the roads.
“Checking vehicle particulars using technology is definitely the way to go to ensure that road users are not hampered in any way,’’ Agbede said.
He urged motorists to visit VIO offices to renew their licenses and maintain the road worthiness standard of their vehicles.
“I advise transporters and other motorists to maintain sanity on the roads and not flout traffic laws due to the ban on VIO officials,’’ the NURTW chairman cautioned.
Alhaji Musa Muhammed, Lagos State Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said that the ban would reduce the number of law enforcement agencies on the road.
Muhammed said that over time, enforcement of traffic laws and regulations had degenerated to duplication of services by the many agencies on the roads.
“The police will ask for your particulars, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) will demand for your particulars, likewise VIO.
“There has always been a need to reduce duplication of efforts by these agencies and it is gratifying to see that the Lagos State Government is tackling the problem,’’ the RTEAN chairman said. He expressed optimism that the ban would bring sanity to Lagos roads.
A commercial driver, Mr Wale Akinsanya, said he was happy over the ban because it would reduce traffic jams on the roads.
Mrs Dorcas Ogunnaike, a motorist in Lagos, was, however, of the opinion that the ban on VIOs would result in the return of rickety vehicles to the roads.
Ogunaike said that the ban would also allow motorists to break traffic laws such as driving without valid documents.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday said Vehicles Inspection Officers had been permanently banned from all Lagos roads. He spoke while inaugurating pedestrian bridges, a lay-by and a slip road at Berger bus stop in Ojodu.
The governor also advised the FRSC to restrict the operations of its personnel to highways and stay off state roads.
He said the VIOs had contributed significantly to gridlock in the state, adding that his government would employ technology to track and monitor vehicle registration and certification henceforth.
