Lagos State Govt. Gives Ultimatum For Removal of Rickety Vehicles From Its Roads

As part of the efforts to further unlock traffic gridlocks and ensure free vehicular movement across the metropolis, the Lagos State Government, through its Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), has organized a stakeholder meeting to sensitize articulated vehicles owners about the need to ensure their vehicles are in good condition before putting them on roads.

The sensitization, according to the State Government, became necessary in view of the frequent traffic jam resulting from the frequent breakdown of rickety vehicles and articulated trucks that daily ply Lagos roads and the danger they constitute to citizens’ safety.

The Director, Vehicle Inspection Service, (VIS), Engr. Akin George Fashola who chaired the meeting, stated that the stakeholders' meeting was aimed at bringing different players together to educate them on government policy relating to the movement of dry and wet cargo within the State as well as intimating them with regulations guiding road carnage by articulated trucks in Lagos.

He added that the increased traffic in the metropolis, occasioned by the regular breakdown of articulated vehicles, indicated the need to inculcate the culture of safety in motorists plying Lagos roads as well as enlighten them on the need to be more cautious and responsible in their daily operations.

Fashola warned that the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) will, henceforth, uphold the State government’s zero tolerance for rickety trucks and articulated vehicles to promote safety on Lagos roads.

He disclosed that there was an agreement among participants that a period of six weeks be given all stakeholders involved in haulage movement to revalidate their documentation and put their vehicles in a proper working condition, failure of which such vehicles would be impounded by the VIS.

While warning operators of articulated trucks, tippers, and tankers to comply with all guidelines on Safety and Standard operations or be sanctioned, the Director listed some areas of agreement between all parties, such as zero-tolerance for rickety trucks and articulated vehicles on Lagos roads; all drivers of articulated vehicles should ensure they hold the required Class-G drivers license; and there should be adequate publicity on radio, television, and newspapers on government directives to sensitize other members absent from the gathering.

Other decisions include the following: all articulated vehicles that develop mechanical problems should not be allowed to load or leave their loading points; there should be a collaboration with haulage companies that own computerized testing facilities that meet global standard practice to enhance compliance and safety; there should be continuous training and retraining of drivers, among others.
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The highpoint of the stakeholder's meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State Government and Trucks Owners to ensure safety and free vehicular movement on Lagos roads.