The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has clarified that the recent Court of Appeal judgment in Abuja on the activities of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in the Federal Capital Territory does not affect the operations of the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS).
In a statement signed by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), the government expressed concern over what it described as a misinterpretation of the appellate court’s ruling. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, had upheld a Federal High Court decision declaring certain VIO enforcement actions in the FCT unlawful.
The Ministry recalled that in 2025, Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled in a fundamental rights enforcement suit that the respondents — including the Director of Road Transport, the Team Leader of Area Command Jabi, and the FCT Minister — lacked statutory authority to stop, impound, confiscate vehicles, or impose fines on motorists in the FCT. The appellate court affirmed that judgment.
According to the Lagos government, the rulings were based specifically on the absence of enabling laws governing VIO operations in the FCT and are therefore jurisdiction-specific. It stressed that the decision does not extend to states with established statutory frameworks regulating vehicle inspection services.
Citing Nigeria’s federal structure, the Ministry noted that traffic management and vehicle inspection fall under the residual powers of state governments. It pointed out that Lagos operates under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, which provides legal backing for VIS activities.
Section 12(1) of the law empowers VIS officers to inspect vehicles, ensure roadworthiness, conduct pre-registration checks, issue Road Worthiness Certificates, and collaborate with other agencies on enforcement. Section 23(1) outlines procedures for fines, including payment through mobile courts or within 48 hours of receiving a ticket, with provisions allowing motorists to challenge penalties in court.
The Ministry maintained that VIS operations in Lagos remain lawful and constitutional, urging motorists to cooperate with officers. It warned that any assault or obstruction of officials carrying out their statutory duties would attract arrest and prosecution, reaffirming the state’s commitment to professional and lawful traffic enforcement.