Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, inspecting one of the car-hailing provided for private operators at very liberal condition
Motorists, truckers and vehicle owners in Lagos state have been reminded to operate their automobiles/vehicles in accordance with the Lagos Transport Sector Reform Law, TSRL, of 2018, as amended.
Other fellow Nigerians who willfully travel to the state of aquatic splendour and make use of Lagos for their social and economic enterprises have also been urged to operate their automobiles in full accord with the extant traffic laws in the state, as the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, will carryout its mandate in accordance to the Transportation Sector Reform Law of 2018, TSRL-2018.
These reminders followed the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which barred the operations of the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Services (otherwise known as VIO) in Abuja, not in Lagos State, nor throughout the federation.
A media statement from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation enlightened those confused about the judgement by noting that the court’s pronouncement could only be enforced exclusively in the court’s jurisdictional area of Abuja.
The statement signed by transportation commissioner, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, explained that “It is important to note and be informed that in law, a court has limits of its territorial jurisdiction and in this case the judgment is restricted to Abuja”.
Osiyemi explained that the kernel in the judgement as delivered by Hon. Justice Evelyn Maha, in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, was the fundamental rights enforcement of the applicant.
According to Osiyemi, another basis which enabled the applicant to succeed was on the ground that all enforcements executed by the Abuja VIO were not supported by any law enacted by the Federal .
The statement elucidated further, “The rationale is that there was no law which empowered the VIO in Abuja to stop, impound seize, or impose fines on motorists”
While in Lagos, the statement affirmed the existence of a law, “the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State (TSRL-2018) which dictates; Part II, Section 11-22 of the law to the establishment, duties and power of VIO in the State, with the penalties or fines that can be imposed for traffic violations as contained in schedule of the law (violations-1-52)”.
The Transportation Commissioner however, made it clear in an unambiguous term that the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on the VIO in Abuja, is not enforceable in Lagos State.
Hence, all road users are urged to abide by the letters and the spirit of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, TSRL 0f 2018, to prevent them from running foul of the law and its attendant consequences.
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