Ban on VIO in Lagos permanent, Ambode insists

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday insisted that his stay-off- the- road order issued to the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in the state is permanent and irreversible.

The governor also directed that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) men should stay on the fringes and highways and not on the main streets of Lagos.

Ambode gave the orders while speaking at the official commissioning of pedestrian bridges, laybys and slip roads at Ojodu Berger area of the state.

The governor lamented that the two agencies were contributing to traffic challenges on Lagos roads, adding that his administration was poised to employ technologies to track and monitor vehicle registration and Ministry of Transportation (MOT) certifications.

“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate that Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) have been asked to stay off our roads permanently.

“We also advise the Federal Road Safety Corps to stay on the fringes and highways and not on the main streets of Lagos,” Governor Ambode said.

On the inauguration of the Berger road projects, Ambode said it was one of the promises he made during his campaigns, based on traffic challenge in the area which required urgent attention.

“At the inception of this administration in May 2015, the traffic situation at the Ojodu Berger axis was one of the challenges we identified as requiring urgent attention.

“This decision was informed by the strategic importance of this axis being a major gateway into our state. What we set out to achieve with this project was to ensure smooth flow of traffic along the express, safeguard the lives of our people who had to run across the express and project the image of a truly global city to our visitors.

“Today, we are delighted that we have not only succeeded in transforming the landscape of this axis but with the slip road, laybys and pedestrian bridge, we have given a new and pleasant experience to all entering and exiting our state,” the governor said.

Governor Ambode, however, assured that his administration would not stop with Ojodu Berger axis alone to address the traffic challenge facing the state.

“This is an ongoing process and we are working to create solutions to traffic congestion in every part of the state, if your neighbourhood or community is experiencing traffic challenges, be rest assured that we will soon be there,” he assured.