The Lagos State Government has clarified that a recent Court of Appeal, Abuja Division judgment barring Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) from impounding vehicles or imposing fines applies only to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and not nationwide.
The judgment followed a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that VIOs in the FCT lacked statutory powers to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or issue fines.
Lawal Pedro, Lagos State Commissioner for Justice, emphasized that the viral claims suggesting nationwide invalidity of vehicle inspection enforcement were misleading.
Lagos State operates under the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service, established by the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, which legally empowers VIS officers to:
Inspect vehicles and enforce roadworthiness regulations
Conduct pre-registration inspections and issue Road Worthiness Certificates
Impose fines through authorized procedures and mobile courts
Enforcement actions by VIS officers in Lagos are therefore lawful and constitutionally grounded.
The government warned motorists against obstructing or assaulting officers and urged cooperation with VIS personnel to avoid sanctions.
The clarification aims to prevent misinterpretation of the Abuja court ruling and reaffirm Lagos State’s legal framework for traffic regulation.
