By Olawale Abdul-Fatah
Responding to motorist complaints on gridlocks in Lagos, the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered that Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) should operate between 12 noon and 3pm daily.
Sanwo-Olu argued that the order to limit their operation hours was reached to ease the pain of motorists and allow free flow of traffic at the peak period.
The Governor gave the order on Tuesday after the monthly security meeting held at the State House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja which was also attended by security chiefs in the state including the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.
He said: “We are using this medium to announce administratively that we have restricted the operations of the men of the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Unit between the hours of 12pm in the midday and 3pm, which is the period we have less traffic flow. They must conduct their inspection within this period before people begin to leave their offices so that their operations will not cause unnecessary delays for motorists.”
The Governor further disclosed that there would be aggressive actions against those flouting his Executive Order on one-way driving, while also reiterating restriction of commercial motorcycles on marked highways and routes. He warned that there would be complete forfeiture of any vehicle arrested for driving against the traffic.
“We are going to go all out to enforce control on our roads in line with my Executive Order. This is the period we need to restore sanity back and keep the State safe. Okada riders are still not allowed to ply roads and places where they have been restricted. The enforcement will be aggressive. There will be arrest and forfeiture if anyone is arrested for driving on one-way.”
Besides, Sanwo-Olu also ordered the immediate removal of heavy-duty vehicles illegally parked under bridges and unapproved places across the State, observing that the action was causing “grave security concern” for the Government.
He advised the owners of the trucks to remove the vehicles before the enforcement of the action to be taken against them, which, he said, may include forfeiture and prosecution.
