Ten computerised vehicle inspection centres will be delivered in Lagos State before December, Managing Director of Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service (LACVIS), Mr Segun Obayendo, has said.
Obayendo, said these would bring to 12 the number of computerised testing centres in Lagos since the initiative berthed in March.
Saying LACVIS intended to have offices in 20 areas, the agency chief noted that the scheme would end manual checks on vehicles, thereby reducing the risk factors that cause accidents.
Obayendo, who was represented by his General Manager, Segun Ogunnaike, said there had been gradual improvement in patronage since the two centres came on stream.
He noted that though Ojodu and Ikorodu centres could check 250 light and heavy capacity vehicles per day and 5,000 vehicles per month, the number of vehicles so far checked by the centres is 749.
Among other comprehensive test to be provided are: emission, beam (head light/brake light), suspension/spring, alignment, service brake/hand brake, steering stability, among others.
Further demographics of the tests showed that in August, LACVIS inspected 599 vehicles, the highest since it began operation, while May figure was the lowest with 14 vehicles.
The least inspection fee, according to a price list obtained from the centre, was N3,200 for a commercial pick up vehicle above 2,000cc, while the highest fee is N11,600 for articulated truck of >32+ to 36+.
A further breakdown of the figure showed that of the 37 vehicles inspected in March, nine passed the mandatory tests, while 28 failed. In April, 16 vehicles were tested, of which 11 passed and five failed; while of the 14 tested in May, four passed and 10 failed.
In June, 35 vehicles were tested, nine passed and 26 failed. In July, of the 48 vehicles inspected, 22 passed and 26 failed. In August, which recorded the highest with 599 vehicles, 180 passed and421 failed.
Describing the tests as comprehensive, Obayendo said they would end regular faults or accidents and free the roads of challenges and encumbrances that lead to traffic gridlock.
The LACVIS chief said the computerised testing would reduce errors prevalent in the old practice when VIS certified vehicles and officers issued certificates without seeing the vehicles.
He debunked speculations that LACVIS was another revenue-generating avenue for the government, adding that the pricing structure followed current realities and is a little lower than the global acceptable standard, benchmarked upon the cost of full tanks of vehicles.