- gives 6 weeks ultimatum for removal of rickety vehicles from Lagos roads
As part of the efforts to further unlock traffics and ensure free vehicular movement across Lagos metropolis, Lagos State Government through its Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) on Friday, organised a Stakeholder’s meeting to sensitise articulated vehicles / trucks owners on the need for safety by ensuring that their vehicles are perfectly in good conditions before putting them on roads
The sensitization, according to the State Government,became necessary in view of the traffic gridlocks often resulted from frequent break down of rickety vehicles / articulated trucks that daily ply Lagosroads and the danger they constitute to human safety.
The Director, Vehicle Inspection Service, (VIS) Engr. Akin-George Fashola who chaired the meetingstated that the stakeholders meeting was aimed at bringing different players together and educate them on government policy on movement of dry and wet cargo within the state as well as intimating them with governmentpolicy as it relates to Carnage involving articulated trucks on Lagos roads.
He added that the increased traffic gridlocks in the metropolis occasioned by regular breakdown of articulated vehicles clearly indicated that there was the need to inculcate the culture of safety in motorists on Lagos roads and enlighten them on the need to be more safety conscious in their daily operations.
Fashola, warned that Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) will henceforthuphold the state government’s zerotolerance for rickety trucks/ articulated vehicles in the state for safety consideration. He disclosed thatat the end of the meeting, it was jointly agreed by all parties thata period of six (6) weeks be given to all Stakeholders involved in haulage movement (dry/Wet cargo) to revalidate their documentation and put their vehicles in a proper working condition, failure of which such vehicles would be arrested and impounded by the authority.
He explained that the meeting is in line with the State Government’s Zero tolerance for carnage on Lagos Roads, warning operators of articulated trucks, tippers and tankers to comply withall guidelines on Safety and Standard operationsor be sanctioned.
The VIS boss listed other areas that both parties jointly agreed and signed Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for road safety to include; there should be zero tolerance for rickety trucks/articulated vehicles on Lagos roads; all rickety trucks/ articulated vehicles should no longer be allocated on Lagos roads; all drivers of articulated vehicles should ensure they drive with the required class G driver’s license; there should be adequate publicity on radio, television and newspapers on government directives to sensitize their members especially those that were not in attendance; all articulated vehicles that developed mechanical problem should not be allowed to load or leave their loading points; there should be collaboration with haulage companies that have computerized testing facilities that meet global standard practice to enhance compliance and safety; there should be continuoustraining and retraining of drivers among others.
The high point of the stakeholders meeting was the signing of Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) by the State Government and Trucks owners that they will all abide by the agreements reached at the meeting and ensure safety and free vehicular movement on Lagos roads.
