Lagos state government has warned private and commercial vehicle owners, and road haulage/logistics operators against the use of defective vehicle number plates, covering of number plates, or driving an out-rightly unregistered vehicle as those acts attract the wrath of the Lagos State Public Transportation Reform Law.
Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, gave the warning in a media statement issued by the ministry and signed by Mrs. Bolanle Ogunlola, Deputy Director, Public Affairs.
The Permanent Secretary said any of such acts would set the culprit against sections 15 and 16 of the Lagos State’s Transport Reform Law 2018.
Toriola highlighted some of the acts the law frowns at such as the covering of number plates without authorization, use of faded number plates, use of damaged number plates, misuse of the number plate, and non-use of number plates, which are all in violation of Lagos state transport reform law.
He explained that the security situation in the country had further compelled the state government to ventilate on its own law, and as such, anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.
The PS cited section 16 of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, (TSRL) 2018, which states that “a person, who drives a vehicle that is not registered, or does not have affixed identification mark in the prescribed manner, commits an offense”.
He said registration of vehicles is another form of enhancing the nation’s security architecture as anyone whose unregistered vehicle is snatched by robbers while driving on the highway, may never recover his investment hence, the wisdom in complying with the law always
Toriola reiterated that “The purpose of using number plate is for proper identification and security as it is personalized for each vehicle”.
He advised those who are not ready to register their vehicles but wish to put them to use, to contact the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, (MVAA) for the issuance of a Temporary Vehicle Tag (TVT).
He said the procurement of TVT is in consonance with section 193 of the TSRL of 2018, which allows the use of such vehicles on the highway pending the owners’ final decision to permanently register the vehicle.
He however reminded members of the general public that the Law Enforcement Agencies have the mandate to apprehend and prosecute recalcitrant owners caught contravening any aspect of the Lagos state public transportation reform law 2018 as amended.
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