On May 8, news had filtered in from several quarters that the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had ordered officers of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) to permanently vacate the roads. Many Lagosians could not hide their joy for what they considered a great step by the governor.
Putting the uncertainty to rest, governor Ambode, during the inauguration of the Ojodu Berger Pedestrian Bridges, Laybys and Slip Road said he had directed the VIOs to stay off Lagos roads permanently.
That announcement finally put the nail to the coffin on the activities of the VIO officers on the roads.
Core responsibilities
The promulgation of Road Traffic Act, on January 1, 1949, resulted in the establishment of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in all the regions. With the creation of states in 1967, each state’s Ministry of Works established VIO Departments under the Directorate of Mechanical Engineering.
In Lagos, the VIO Department was established under the state Ministry of Transportation and headed by the Chief VIO. Its core responsibilities include ensuring that all vehicles are properly inspected and certified before registration or renewal of vehicle particulars; public education and advocacy; effective patrols on roads and highway to carry out routine checks and enforce compliance; effective enforcement through vehicle impoundment and payment of fines to ensure compliance, among others.
Others are ensuring that all vehicles are properly inspected and certified before registration or renewal of vehicle particulars, ensuring that vehicle inspection plazas are well distributed for easy access within the metropolis, collaborating with companies with large fleet for onsite vehicle inspection to ensure compliance using mobile vehicle inspection units and periodic training, retraining seminars and conferences for officers towards achievement of mastery in motor vehicle administration.
Carrying out these oversight functions has not come without a price, particularly with some bad elements in the system that have consistently given the agency and the state bad name.
Residents’ reaction
Although quite a large number of residents are excited about government’s decision that men on white-and-black should vacate the roads, a real estate expert, Mr. Emeka Maduabuchi, who recalled his encounter with the officers, sometime last year, said his experience was one he will never forget in a hurry.
“I was on my way to Victoria Island to meet with a client who was interested in a property, when I was stopped by VIO officers at Alausa. In the first instance, I did not sense any trouble because I had my entire vehicle papers complete and I was not hesitant to give them all my papers to peruse.”
After nearly 20 minutes of thoroughly scrutinising his papers, the officers eventually picked on a small dent on his rear light and before Maduabuchi could explain himself, he had been handed a ticket for a fine of N20, 000 for driving with a broken rear light.
Like Maduabuchi, Mr. Rotimi summed up the phenomenon that had characterised the activities of the VIOs on Lagos roads when he said that “the fear of the men in black-and-white is the beginning of wisdom for all Lagos motorists.
Another resident Mr Paul Ipeazu, said in spite of the many short comings of the officers, their activities have assisted in checkmating many that flout the traffic regulations
“I have not had any particular issues with VIO but from my observation, the activities of these officers have really helped to phase out rickety vehicles off the street.”
Charting a new path
Already, Ambode has challenged the VIOs to come up with new modes of operation. This has thrown up a number of questions, which some VIOs said, would help them think creatively and evolve new strategies to track registered vehicles and their owners for non-compliance.
An enforcement official said the new directive implies that the responsibilities of VIOs will be more of administrative than enforcement. It also implies working out new ways of enforcing and operating in line with international best practices.
The official, thus, said the VIO operatives “are educated. The least educated among us have OND. We have a good number of people with first and second degrees. So, we are capable of devising new mode of operation in line with the governor’s directive.”
However, another VIO operative exercised apprehension on the fate of the enforcement officials that were newly employed. With the new directive, he asked, what will be the fate of some operatives who are employed to patrol strategic roads and enforce compliance? Besides, will the state government guarantee their engagement?
Acting Commissioner for Transportation Mr. Olanrewaju Elegushi, who clarified the situation, said the government has put in place intensive training for the officials so as to prepare them on their new mode of operation.
He said: “Right now, the VIS officials are undergoing training on how they will improve their services on Lagos roads.
“It‘s a month-long event for the officials where they will undergo intensive training so that they will be able to deliver quality and better services across the state.
“We all believe that VIOs need to perform their functions in a more civilised way and be technologically driven”.
On his part, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, explained that government’s order to the VIOs to vacate the roads was to pave way for its reforms.
“There is an ongoing reform as to how the VIS carries out its operations, which might require that the inspection officers are off the streets at this point,” Ayorinde said.
