The Lagos State Authorities has clarified {that a} latest Abuja courtroom order restraining Car Inspection Officers (VIO) from impounding autos or imposing fines on motorists doesn’t apply inside Lagos State.
The clarification was contained in an announcement issued on Monday by Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, Honourable Lawyer Normal and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State.
The assertion follows public confusion over stories suggesting that the Abuja ruling on VIO powers within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) impacts the operations of the Lagos State Car Inspection Service (VIS), setting the tone for a way site visitors enforcement will proceed within the state.
What they’re saying
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice stated the Court docket of Appeal, Abuja, affirmed a Federal Excessive Court docket ruling that VIOs within the FCT should not empowered by legislation to cease, impound, or confiscate autos or impose fines on motorists.
The judgments have been based mostly on the absence of statutory authority for the respondents in that swimsuit, together with the Director of Street Transport and the Minister of the FCT, to train such powers.
- “The judgments of the Federal Excessive Court docket and the Court docket of Appeal, Abuja, although binding, should not of common utility or of nationwide impact in Nigeria.”
- “Solely events to the swimsuit and any State that has no statute on VIO like FCT Abuja are sure by the judgments.”
The Ministry careworn that the clarification grew to become essential to appropriate misconceptions and reiterated that VIS enforcement in Lagos stays lawful and totally backed by state laws.
How Lagos VIS operates
The Ministry famous that Nigeria’s federal construction grants each the Federal and State Governments legislative authority, with automobile inspection and site visitors administration categorized as residual issues reserved for states.
In contrast to the FCT, Lagos operates beneath the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Regulation, which empowers the State Car Inspection Service (VIS) to examine and regulate autos, conduct pre-registration inspections, subject Street Worthiness Certificates, and implement site visitors laws in collaboration with different businesses.
- VIS officers are authorised beneath Lagos legislation to examine autos and subject compliance directives.
- Fines are issued by means of tickets, payable instantly or inside 48 hours of issuance.
- Motorists have the correct to defend themselves or problem any ticket in courtroom.
The federal government emphasised that the statutory framework in Lagos clearly establishes the legality and constitutionality of VIS operations within the state.
Backstory
In October 2024, the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja barred the Car Inspection Workplace (VIO) from stopping, impounding, or confiscating autos and from imposing fines on motorists throughout the FCT. The ruling adopted a elementary rights enforcement swimsuit filed by human rights lawyer Abubakar Marshal, who argued that the VIO and different officers had exceeded their authorized mandate.
- The swimsuit named the Director of Street Transport, the Space Commander of Jabi, the workforce chief of Jabi, and the Minister of the FCT as respondents.
- Justice Evelyn Maha dominated that the respondents lacked statutory authority to cease autos, confiscate them, or impose fines.
- The courtroom described such actions as wrongful and illegal, issuing a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from persevering with the practices.
The judgment held that any additional makes an attempt to implement such actions within the FCT would quantity to a violation of motorists’ elementary rights to freedom of motion and property.
What it’s best to know
Past the authorized clarification, Lagos has continued to develop the scope and know-how underpinning its Car Inspection Service operations. The state has intensified its use of digital enforcement instruments aimed toward enhancing compliance and highway security throughout main corridors.
- In March 2025, the state introduced plans to deploy about 3,000 e-police and pace restrict cameras, with installations already accomplished on Alapere–Ogudu Street, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Method, Allen Junction, and Nurudeen Olowopopo Street in Ikeja.
- Pace restrict violations appeal to a N50,000 superb, whereas motorists retain the correct to contest penalties.
- The VIS has launched a web based roadworthiness recertification platform for certificates renewals with out bodily visits to inspection centres.
- In February 2025, Lagos introduced a partnership with Huawei Applied sciences to deploy new Clever Transport System websites, complementing current Automated Quantity Plate Recognition cameras.
The Lagos State Authorities maintains that each one transport and site visitors enforcement within the state will proceed strictly in accordance with its legal guidelines, warning that any motorist who disobeys or assaults a VIS officer on responsibility will face arrest and prosecution.
