Lagos seizes 175 cars for using illegal dealer number plates

The Lagos State Government has taken 175 vehicles off the road for breaking rules on dealer number plates.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, shared this news on Monday. He said the cars were taken by the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) during their ongoing operations.

Mr Osiyemi explained that the operations focus on drivers and car dealers who misuse dealer number plates. These plates are meant for specific purposes only.

"As part of ongoing enforcement efforts, the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) has apprehended 175 vehicles found in violation of these regulations," he stated.

He added that the dealer plates taken from the vehicles will be confiscated. The seized cars will also undergo further investigation.

The commissioner warned drivers against using fake, hidden, or unauthorized registration numbers. He said any vehicle with such plates would face actions like impoundment and possible prosecution under traffic laws.

The Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, sets the rules for vehicle registration and number plates in the state. It makes using fake or unauthorized number plates a crime and outlines the penalties.

According to Mr Osiyemi, this latest action is to ensure all vehicles on Lagos roads have proper registration. This helps in easily identifying vehicles.

He explained that dealer number plates are for specific tasks and should not be used as permanent registration for cars. They can be used for things like authorized test drives, vehicle inspections, or moving unregistered vehicles from ports to designated places.

These plates are not for personal daily use or for cars that have already been sold but are still waiting for permanent registration.

The commissioner emphasized that a dealer number plate cannot replace the need for proper vehicle registration.

Mr Osiyemi called on vehicle dealers and drivers to follow the rules and get the right registration numbers for their cars. He said this enforcement aims to improve accountability, help in identifying vehicles correctly, and boost safety on Lagos roads.

He warned that the government will keep impounding vehicles that use dealer plates improperly or have unauthorized registration numbers.