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By Moses Akaigwe
•Some of the impounded rickety vehicles
The Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) on Wednesday impounded no fewer than 50 rickety commercial vehicles during a comprehensive enforcement operation that targeted unroadworthy automobiles across the state
The operation, which was part of the efforts by the VIS to enhance road safety and ensure compliance with relevant regulations, focused on vehicles that failed to meet the prescribed minimum roadworthiness standards.
Specifically, the operation concentrated on brakes, wipers, lights, shocks and tyres, as stipulated in the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
The enforcement exercise covered various key locations including; Costain, Ikorodu road, Ojuelegba, Yaba, Oyingbo, Ikeja, and Ojodu Berger.
While diligently scrutinising commercial vehicles to ensure compliance with safety regulations, the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs). also enlightened the drivers on the danger embedded in non-compliance, majority of which was the cause of road accidents.
Debunking the misconceptions that the VIS’s enforcement targets more of private vehicles, the Director, Vehicle Inspection Services, Engr. Akin-George Fashola explained that the road worthiness compliance exercise is no respecter of particular categories of vehicles.
‘It is expected to be implemented on all vehicles that ply Lagos roads’, Fashola said.
Despite the professionalism displayed by VIS officers during the operation, some defiant commercial vehicle drivers resisted efforts to apprehend them and in the cause of their high-headedness, damaged the patrol vans belonging to the VIS command.
Insisting that such acts of defiance would not deter the state government from persisting in enforcement efforts until the prevalence of rickety vehicles is significantly reduced, the VIS Director advised all vehicle owners to adopt voluntary compliance with roadworthiness requirements for safety of lives and property.
Engr. Fashola further reiterated that the VIS would continue to uphold its commitment to conducting fair and unbiased enforcement drives, urging all vehicle owners and operators to prioritise regular maintenance and adherence to roadworthiness standards to ensure the safety of all road users.
In another development, the Lagos State Government said it is working round the clock to boost its water transportation by creating safer, efficient, and sustainable strategies which are at various stages of implementation.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, stated this during a tour of the Lagos State Waterways Monitoring and Data Management Centre (WMDMC) Control Room, established by the Lagos State Waterways Authority, (LASWA) about 3 years ago.
Affirming the purpose of the tour, the Commissioner explained that various strategies are being taken by the State Government to make water transportation a viable and reliable option for Lagosians.
Explaining the functions of the WMDMC control room, the General Manager, LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, stated that the control room was set up to manage movement on the Inland waterways.
He further highlighted the sections of the WMDMC consisting of: A Command-and-Control, Vessel Tracking System, Radio and Video Communication Network and Tidal Gauge Monitoring System which are all responsible for monitoring activities round the clock of 4 jetties locations; Ikorodu, Ebute Ero, Liverpool and Falomo. He added that the data cameras captures real time incidences as far as 2.5 kilometer range from the jetties checking mishaps and impediments on the waterways.
Emmanuel also disclosed that plans are underway to extend the monitored locations to 5 more to enhance safety on the inland waterways.
To further assess real time safety measures on the waterways, the tour delegates including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa, LASWA boat operators, and Caverton Marine delegates embarked on a boat ride in one of the Caverton locally made boats to Badore Ferry Terminal to inspect the boat yard where the construction of the ferries is taking place.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa while on the 35 minutes boat ride to Badore hinted that the State Government finds it more economical patronising the local boat builders to build its boats which has in turn reduced cost of purchasing from outside the country.
At the boat yard, the Chief Executive Officer, Caverton Offshore, Olabode Makanjuola explained that the boats were built in line with International standard and about 15 newly built boats will soon be launched into the inland waterways.
