Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, has said that the ban
of Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) from Lagos road is permanent.
Governor Ambode who disclosed this Tuesday at the
commissioning of Pedestrian bridges, layby and slip roads in Ojodu Berger axis
also asked officers of the Federal Road Service Corps, (FRSC) to stay off all
state roads.
Ambode’s statement overrides last week’s statement by
Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi, that the VIO ban
was temporary and that they only went for training to improve their services in
line with global best practices.
His words: “Nobody is banning VIOs from the roads; there is
no directive to that effect from the governor of Lagos State.
“Right now, the VIS officials in the state are undergoing
training on how they will improve their services on Lagos roads.
“It ‘s a month-long event for the officials where they will
undergo intensive training so that they will be able to deliver quality and
better service across the state.
“We all believe that VIOs need to perform their functions in
a more civilised way and be technologically driven”.
Steve Ayorinde, the state Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, explained that LASG’s order to the VIOs to vacate the roads was to
pave way for its reforms.
“There is an ongoing reform as to how the VIS carries out
its operations, which might require that the inspection officers are off the
streets at this point.
By Wale Odunsi
