Lagos warns motorists against use of defective number plates

By Moses Akaigwe

The Lagos State Government has warned motorists against the use of defective vehicle registration number plates on Lagos roads and those without any number fixed on their vehicles to desist from the unlawful act.

Such acts contravene section 15 and 16 of the State’s Transport Reform Law 2018, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, has warned.

Explaining the anomaly of wrongful use of the number plate which, he said, has become rampant, Toriola noted that covering of number plate without authorisation, use of faded number plate, use of damaged number plate, misuse of number plate and non-use of number plate, all violate the law, especially with the present security challenges facing the nation.

Quoting section 16 of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, the Permanent Secretary reiterated that, “a person, who drives a vehicle that is not registered, or does not have affixed identification mark in the prescribed manner, commits an offence.”

Highlighting the need for vehicles to be properly registered with number plates, the Transport Permanent Secretary opined that a no-number vehicle can be used to commit crimes, which may never be tracked.

“The purpose of using number plate is for proper identification and security as it is personalised for each vehicle”.

Toriola advised Motorists to use water and non-chemical to wash the number plates of their vehicles to prevent it from being damaged.

Explaining further the act of misuse of number plate, the Permanent Secretary declared that the use of private number plate for commercial vehicle and otherwise also violates the TSRL, 2018.

For individuals who are at the moment not willing to register their vehicles for one reason or the other, Toriola advised them to contact the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, (MVAA) of the State for the issuance of Temporary Vehicle Tag (TVT) in line with section 193 of the TSRL, 2018 pending their final decision on permanent registration or otherwise.

Stressing that the Law Enforcement Agencies have the mandate to apprehend defaulters, the Transport Permanent Secretary urged vehicle owners to comply with the State Government to strengthen the security architecture already put in place.