Dec. 2, 2022

The Lagos State Government says it will start the issuance of International Driver’s Permit effective December 2022.

The Director, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) in the state, Mr. Akin-George Fashola, said this in a statement through the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Bolanle Ogunlola, on Thursday in Lagos.

Fashola made this known while receiving the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Abdulhafiz Toriola, who was on an official visit to the Head Office of the VIS at Ojodu, Lagos.

He said that all stakeholders had been engaged while the issuance process had been finalised.

The VIS Director explained that the issuance of the International Certificates for vehicles and International Driver’s Permits was in line with international requirements.

He said that permit, as specified in section 326 (U) of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018, included class or description of vehicle and examination on the vehicle.

Fashola also said that private registered vehicles that were within five years from the date of manufacture shall be exempted from the mandatory computerised routine inspection carried out by the VIS .

“The mandatory computerised routine inspection is stated in schedule 1, section 326 (10) of the State’s TSRL, 2018, noting that Pre-Registration inspections (Auto Vin) would have recorded such vehicles for exemption.

“All that will be required from the owners of such vehicles is to get Exemption Certificate from the VIS.

“The exclusion is one of the ways to prevent the Computerised Vehicles Inspection Centres across the state from being over clogged with vehicles,” Fashola said.

The director also disclosed that the VIS had commenced clamping down on rickety commercial vehicles without proper documentation and safety standards as prescribed, in section 12 (2) of the State’s TSRL, 2018.

He solicited for the support of other law enforcement agencies in ensuring that Lagos roads were free of rickety vehicles.

Addressing the Vehicle Inspection Officers, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Abdulhafiz Toriola, admonished them to work in line with the mandate of the VIS.

Toriola said that all motor vehicles plying the roads across the state should meets safety standards in line with International best practices.

He equally urged the directorate to intensify its advocacy and safety drive especially at this yuletide season, calling on officers to come up with new initiatives that would improve their mode of operations.