In order to execute the terms of the Road Traffic Law 2021, the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) has promised to concentrate its enforcement efforts on commercial yellow-branded buses in the state, also known as “Danfo” and “Korope” buses.
Akin-George Fashola, the Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer for VIS, revealed this on Monday, February 19, 2024, during an appearance on The Morning Brief, a new breakfast program on Channels Television.
Despite the Lagos State VIS’s mandate covering all vehicles, Fashola pointed out that the agency’s primary focus is on business transporters.
Although private persons also drive unsafe vehicles on the road, according to Fashola, the Service has enough technology in place to handle negligent private owners.
He said, “Our mandate is all vehicles, but this year like I had said having heard that complaint before so many times, this year our focus for our officers is the commercial transporters.
“So, I’m at a level where I’m comfortable with the technology the state has developed and put on the roads to take care of private citizens. You will hardly see Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Officers disturbing private citizens on roads.
“So, it’s a matter of 2024, we are facing commercial road users because there are just so many of them. It’s high time we changed our focus, our procedures, our approach is to get those numbers down to a suitable level. So, I agree with you for most part like I said earlier the technology we have applied will take care of private citizens.
“Having said that, even private citizens have very bad cars but my main goals is for commercial citizens.”
In response to a question about the agency’s legal authority to detain one-way drivers, Fashola stated that, in its capacity as a law enforcement organization, it accepts assignments involving priority traffic infraction offenses, such as detaining one-way defaulters. He said, “It’s an addition for us, not our main focus.”
Additionally, according to Fashola, the state’s Ministry of Transportation places signs on private one-way highways; but, when the signposts are stolen, irresponsible drivers flout the law.