Lagos bans dealer number plates for everyday use
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its prohibition on the permanent use of dealer number plates, warning that 175 vehicles have already been apprehended for violating the regulations.
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its prohibition on the permanent or everyday use of dealer number plates by motorists and vehicle dealers. The Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos. Ogunlola warned motorists and vehicle dealers against using dealer number plates for purposes outside those permitted by law.
She said the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, restricted dealer plates to specific, time-limited activities. Permitted uses include authorised test drives, vehicle inspections, vehicle delivery or collection, and movement of unregistered vehicles. Such movement must be directly from ports or authorised dealer premises to designated locations. “Their use for private daily commuting, continuous operation on public roads, or on vehicles already sold is prohibited,” Ogunlola said.
She noted that the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) had apprehended 175 vehicles for violating regulations governing dealer number plates. The dealer plates recovered from the affected vehicles would be confiscated, while the vehicles would undergo further investigation.
The enforcement action is a reminder that the law is being applied. The use of dealer plates for everyday commuting has been a common practice, but the government is cracking down. The apprehension of 175 vehicles is a warning to motorists and dealers that they will be held accountable.
This echoes the 2022 enforcement of traffic regulations in Lagos, which also saw the government crack down on violations. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a focus on enforcing the law.
The winners: law-abiding motorists, who benefit from a more orderly system; and the Lagos State Government, which is enforcing the law. The losers: the motorists and dealers who have been apprehended; and the Nigerian public, who must comply with the regulations.
Bottom Line: Lagos is cracking down on dealer number plates. 175 vehicles have been apprehended. The question is whether the enforcement will be sustained.