Not fewer than 311 unfit commercial vehicles have been impounded by the Lagos State government within the months of January to May 2023.
This was made known in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs in the state’s Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola, while the Director of Vehicle Inspection Service in the state, Akin-George Fashola, responded to the claim that personnel from the agency only went after erring private vehicles during the enforcement of their routine roadworthiness, while the commercial ones often escape.
Fashola explained that such an allegation was false as commercial buses were not spared but treated with caution to ensure the safety of passengers and other road users, noting that the VIS and other enforcement agencies would continue to deepen their efforts in clamping down against the operation of bad commercial vehicles across the state.
The statement partly read, “About 311 commercial vehicles have been impounded from January 2023 to date through their body tags, a move he said is part of efforts by the State Government to ensure the safety of lives of residents, especially commuters.
“Speaking on the Automatic Number Plate Recognition, (ANPR) Camera and the Traffic Management Solution (TMS) device deployed by the state government in compliance with traffic laws and regulations, Fashola said the initiative has reduced the interface between traffic enforcement officers and motorists, adding that the technology is a win-win procedure for both the law enforcement officers and motorists, as the regular arguments on traffic laws violation will be put to rest through detailed recordings.
“The Director assured that VIS Officers are compliant with the state traffic laws and would not exert any action outside what is stipulated in the law.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has announced that traffic will be diverted in some parts of Agege in the Agege Local Government Area of the state following the commencement of a sectional repair of Oke-Koto Intersection at Pen Cinema, Agege.
The repair project has been scheduled to kickstart on Monday May 15 and end on June 12, 2023.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederick Oladehinde, in a traffic advisory signed on Saturday, said that alternative routes had been mapped out for ease of vehicular movements in places where traffic will be diverted.
He assured residents that personnel from the State Traffic Management Authority would be fully on ground to manage traffic situations along the routes.
The statement read, “Motorists coming from Abule Egba end, moving towards the Secretariat, Alausa can make use of Fagba through Charity to join Oba Ogunji enroute Odo Eran to connect desired destinations. Motorists can make use of Old Oko Oba Road to link Old Ipaja Road depending on their desired destinations.
“Motorists coming from Iyana Ipaja inbound Oke-koto can make use of Olabode Street to access Oniwaya Road enroute Guinness/Ashade. Motorists from Capitol Road junction going towards Oke-koto will be diverted to Oniwaya road on both sides to access their destinations.
“Motorists can also make use of Old Abeokuta Road instead of Ipaja Road. Motorists from the bridge to Oke-koto junction will be diverted to an alternative lane by Tabon-Tabon (near Conoil station) to proceed with their journeys.”
