416 Died, 2,498 Injured On Lagos Raods In One Year Ambode
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday disclosed that a total of 416 lives were lost and 2,498 injured in the last one year on the state roads, saying the commissioning of Ojodu computerized Vehicle Inspection Centre was to mitigate the high level of road carnage in the state.
According to him, the centre which is one of the 57 to be built in all the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the state will address the issues of the state of vehicles on the roads and determine the road worthiness of such vehicles.
The governor represented by the Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi, stated that Lagos State, being the fattest growing megacity in Africa, had come to a stage where the establishment of the computerized vehicle inspection centre was very necessary to enhance the inspection of vehicles both private and commercial in line with international best practices.
Ambode stated that the state government would continue to innovate and create a platform for opportunities and accomplishments in discharging its responsibilities of protecting lives and properties.
The governor, while describing the Centre’s commissioning as the end of an era of subjective testing of vehicles, noted that the state was determined to join the League of Nations committed to the UN Decade of Action which targets global reduction of carnage by 35per cent.
Stating that crash statistics was too high, he observed that the state government’s investment and partnership with the Lagos Computerized Vehicle Inspection Services Limited (LACVIS) was designed to reduce carnage.
While reiterating his commitment to a safe, secured, reliable and efficient transport system, Governor Ambode said the Centre would enhance a faultless and human error proof system of certifying vehicles.
He urged citizens to embrace the opportunity and effectively check their vehicles and obtain necessary licenses and certification at the Centre.
According to him, services to be provided include emission testing, beam system, brake and suspension system and the body, adding that it was the responsibility of vehicle owners to maintain their vehicles at all time as stated in the Road Traffic Law 2012.
In his remarks, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) represented, Mr. Olalekan Morakinyo, praised the state government for removing subjectivity from vehicle testing to objectivity.
He added that minimizing hazard and determining the state of vehicles would go a long way to reduce carnage on the road, promising that the FRSC would continue to partner with the Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS) to promote the use of the Centre.
The FRSC boss urged the state government to ensure the sustainability of the project, even as he called on other states government to emulate Lagos by setting up such facilities in their states to curb road accidents.
Presenting the project, the Managing Director of LACVIS, Mr. Segun Obayendo, observed that in approving the project, the state governor had demonstrated courage and respect for good ideas, urging Nigerians to do the right things by taking positive actions that would save lives.
