LAGOS – The Lagos State Government has warned motorists against the use of defective vehicle registration number plates on the highways.
The government also cautioned those without any number plate fixed on their vehicles to desist from the unlawful act or face prosecution.
A statement by Mrs. Bolanle Ogunlola, the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos Ministry of Transportation said that such act was against Section 15 and 16 of the State’s Transport Reform Law 2018.
The statement quoted Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation as mentioning 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 as violating the law especially with the present security challenges facing the nation.
Toriola, quoting Section 16 of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, (TSRL) 2018, emphasised 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, Toriola suggested that a no number vehicle could be used to commit crimes, which may never be tracked, maintaining that the purpose of using a number plate was for proper identification and security as it is personalised for each vehicle.
The Permanent Secretary advised motorists to use water and non-chemical to wash the number plates of their vehicles to prevent it from being damaged.
Besides, he insisted that the use of private number plate for commercial vehicle and otherwise also violates the state’s Act on transportation.
For individuals who are at the moment not willing to register their vehicles for one reason or the other, Toriola advise 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.
He maintained that the law enforcement agencies had the mandate to apprehend defaulters of the state’s transport law.
He further appealed to vehicle owners to comply with the State Government to strengthen the security architecture already put in place.
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