Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu has warned officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to desist from chasing after recalcitrant motorists, saying such does not befit the status of Lagos as emerging smart city.
The governor said approvals, therefore, have been given for acquisition of necessary electronic gadgets and devices that would enable the traffic managers and vehicle inspectors be on top of their game using modern technology to bring those who flout state traffic laws to discipline.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the unveiling of a two-storey headquarters building of Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) at Ojodu on Tuesday.
He said there was the need for the officers to play by the rules, and justify the investment the government was making on them.
“You must be civil in dealing with the members of the public at all times. We are more refined, we are better human beings, we are better officers and we are working in an environment that we can compare and compete with anybody in any part of the world.
“So, let us keep this environment working, let us be courteous when people come in for service. Let them have an experience that they will go and tell others.
“People must see that we have a human face in all of our deliverables,” he said.
He assured of his administration’s commitment to bringing the VIS in line with global best practices.
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He believed that the state has recorded substantial improvement in traffic law enforcement, but that more needed to be done. The improvement, he said, has come through the introduction of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) the Lagos Computerised VIS (LACVIS) the forensic laboratory, and E-testing for driver’s licence among others, all of which are in consistence with the government’s Smart-City project and the goal of making Lagos truly a preferred 21st-century economy.
“Now, with the commissioning, we are consolidating on the progress so far made, the VIS plays a critical support and role especially at ensuring that all vehicles that ply our roads are roadworthy and do not constitute dangers to commuters.
“We know that vehicle breakdowns are major contributors to traffic gridlock in Lagos, which results in avoidable losses of productive lives and time.
“We must therefore seek to minimise these destructive breakdowns through strict enforcement of relevant laws aided by application of modern technology. The major goal of this new system is to ensure that traffic flow is not negatively impacted in the process of enforcing the law,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor disclosed that the state would implement the VIS modern offices in all the 57 local government and local council development areas, saying 16 councils have been covered already.
Frederic Oladeinde, the commissioner for transport said the newly inaugurated VIS has been built to accommodate all arms of the Directorate of VIS.
The office also has back-end-office for the Automatic Number Plate Recognition Enforcement System (ANPR), training hall, conference room and others.
The office is also accommodating other sister agencies, including Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to serve as a one-stop centre for prompt and quality services.
