VIO ban is permanent, says Ambode

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, has announced a permanent ban on vehicles inspection officers (VIO) who were earlier asked to go on one-month training.

He also told officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to stay off the streets in his state.

Ambode said this while commissioning pedestrian bridges, laybys and slip road in the Ojodu-Berger area of the state, on Tuesday.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me use this opportunity to reiterate that Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) have been asked to stay off our roads permanently,” he said.

“We advise the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to stay on the fringes and highways and not on the main streets of Lagos.”

He said as an alternative, the state government would employ technology to track and monitor vehicle registration and MOT certifications and de-emphasise impounding of vehicles on the roads.

“It has become evident that these agencies contribute to the traffic challenges on our roads. We will employ technology to track and monitor vehicle registration and MOT certifications,” he said.

Last week, Olanrewaju Elegushi, the state commissioner for transportation, said VIO had not been completely banned but sent on training to improve their services in line with global best practices.

“Nobody is banning VIOs from the roads; there is no directive to that effect from the governor of Lagos state,” Elegushi had said.

“Right now, the VIS officials in the state are undergoing training on how they will improve their services on Lagos roads.

“It is a month’s long event for the officials where they will undergo intensive training so that they will be able to deliver quality and better service across the state.”