GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has expressed his determination to mitigate the high level of road carnage which has resulted in loss of 416 lives and 2, 498 injured persons in the last year on Lagos roads as he commissioned the Ojodu computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre.

The centre, one of the 57 to be built in all the local governments and local council development areas in the state, is to address the issue of the state of vehicles on the roads and determine the road-worthiness of such vehicles.

Speaking at the event, the governor, represented by Olanrewaju Elegushi, acting commissioner of Transportation, stated that Lagos State being the fastest growing megacity in Africa had come to a stage where the establishment of the computerised vehicle inspection centre was necessary to enhance the inspection of all vehicles in line with international best practices.

He 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 property.

Describing the centre’s commissioning as the end of an era of subjective testing of vehicles, the commissioner said the state was determined to join the League of Nations committed to the UN Decade of Action which targets global reduction of carnage by 35 percent.

Ambode, who noted that crash statistics in the state was high, said the state government’s investment and partnership with the Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Services Limited, LACVIS, were designed to reduce carnage.

The governor reiterated his commitment to the promise of a safe, secured, reliable and efficient transport system, adding that the Centre will enhance a faultless and human error-proof system of certifying vehicles.

He urged citizens to embrace the opportunity to effectively check their vehicles and obtain necessary licenses and certification at the centre while highlighting services available at the facility to include emission testing, beam, brake and suspension system checks.

 In his remarks, Olalekan Morakinyo, sector commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, represented by praised the state government for removing subjectivity from vehicle testing to objectivity. He added that minimizing hazard and determining the state of vehicles will go a long way to reduce accidents.

While promising that the FRSC would continue to partner with the Vehicle Inspection Services, VIS, to promote the use of the centre, he urged the State Government to ensure the sustainability of the project and implored other states to emulate Lagos by setting up such facilities to curb road accidents.

—  May 1, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT