Lagos plans integrated enforcement against unregistered auto dealers

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa

The Lagos State Government says it is set to commence enforcement against unregistered auto and spare parts dealers and those that displayed their vehicles for sale on walkways and bus stops.

The government said the exercise would be an integrated enforcement and would be coordinated by the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, who said this at a stakeholders’ meeting with vehicle and auto-spare parts dealers, held in the Ojodu area of the state, added that the enforcement would involve the state Task Force on Abandoned Vehicles, the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency and the Vehicle Inspection Service.

He said, “Vehicles displayed in unauthorised places will be impounded during the exercise while dealers with expired licences may have their premises sealed.”

Opeifa, whose speech was read by the Permanent Secretary, MVAA, Mr. Akin Hanson, said the government had always designed a number of strategies to encourage compliance with the provisions of the law by individuals and companies.

“While the government has always preferred persuasion and enlightenment to achieve voluntary compliance with the law and thereby achieve a safer auto and spare parts dealership environment in the state, unrelenting resistance from illegal operators, as well as their proliferation, has made periodic application of force necessary.

“The resort to enforcement in ridding the state of illegal roadside operators who have refused to comply with the provisions of the extant law has become even more imperative in view of the enormous security challenges currently confronting the nation,” said Opeifa.

He noted that while compliance with the law through due registration of businesses was desirable, it was not a licence for illegal display of vehicles on road setbacks and other unauthorised places by registered dealers.

He appealed to all illegal vehicle and auto spare parts sellers to register and secure a dealership license, adding, “alternatively, such private individuals or organisations can process the selling of their vehicles through duly registered motor vehicle dealers.”

Earlier, Hanson, whose speech was read by the Director, Finance and Administration, MVAA, Mrs. Olubukola Omolaja, said the MVAA would deploy all available resource in ensuring that dealers comply with the provisions of the law regulating their businesses.