Lagos State VIS Declares War on Rickety Vehicles, Vows Not to Release Impounded Death TrapsIn a bold and intensified move to improve road safety and protect lives across Lagos, the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) has announced a firm policy: all dilapidated, unroadworthy vehicles impounded by the agency will no longer be released for use under any circumstance. The decision marks a renewed and resolute stance by the agency to rid the state�s roads of vehicles that pose serious threats to public safety.
This announcement comes in the wake of a major statewide operation that led to the seizure of multiple dangerously defective vehicles. The operation, which was carried out by VIS officers across strategic parts of the state, targeted vehicles in visibly poor condition�many of which, according to the agency, were not just unfit for the road, but outright hazardous.
Speaking during an on-site inspection where one of the vehicles was personally apprehended, the Director of the Lagos VIS, Engr. Akin-George Fashola, expressed deep concern over the alarming state of some of the impounded vehicles. He described them as �accidents waiting to happen��vehicles that were not only poorly maintained, but also fitted with expired parts, bald tyres, malfunctioning brakes, broken lights, and missing essential safety components.
�These vehicles are nothing short of ticking time bombs,� Fashola warned. �They are directly responsible for many of the accidents that lead to avoidable fatalities, permanent injuries, and destruction of property. Their continued presence on our roads is unacceptable.�
Fashola pointed out that many of these vehicles operate at night to avoid detection, endangering the lives of unsuspecting commuters, pedestrians, and other road users. He emphasized that their removal is a non-negotiable aspect of the state�s strategy to reduce road accidents and ensure safer transportation for all.
In a strong appeal to residents, he urged the public to prioritize personal safety by refusing to patronize visibly unsafe vehicles, especially commercial ones. He called on Lagosians to take ownership of road safety by reporting any sightings of such vehicles directly to the agency.
�The public plays a critical role in this campaign,� he said. �We are encouraging everyone to report rickety vehicles through our dedicated complaint platforms. You can reach us via email at [email protected] or through the Ministry of Transportation�s hotlines: 09020004000 and 09020009000. Every report matters.�
Engr. Fashola also reaffirmed the VIS�s commitment to working closely with road transport unions, vehicle owners, and other key stakeholders to ensure that all vehicles on Lagos roads meet minimum safety standards. He noted that regular vehicle inspections, stricter enforcement, and public awareness campaigns will be ramped up in the coming weeks as part of a broader initiative to create a culture of compliance and accountability on the roads.
�Road safety is not a luxury�it is a necessity. We cannot afford to look the other way while innocent lives are put at risk daily by vehicles that should have been long retired,� he added.
As Lagos continues to expand as a bustling mega city with growing transportation demands, the VIS�s decisive action sends a clear message: road safety is a shared responsibility, and the era of tolerating unsafe vehicles is officially over
