Auction: Lagos Assembly reviewing traffic law, says Justice commissioner

The Lagos State House of Assembly is currently reviewing the state Transport Sector Reform Law (2018) for amendment, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, has said.

He said this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

It was a reaction to the criticism that greeted last Thursday’s auction of vehicles impounded for traffic offences by officials of the state government.

Onigbanjo said, “The Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law is currently being reviewed by the state House of Assembly and amendments will be in place as soon as possible.

“This issue of driving against traffic has become such a nuisance, such a danger, and such a menace to society that something drastic has to be done, and the legislators at that time imposed these penalties.

“There is a process to amend the law so people can go up to their representatives in the state house of assembly and make agitations that in our view, this is draconian and we think you should change the law. That could kick-start the process but ongoing right now, there is a process to review the law.”

There has been public outcry after abandoned and impounded vehicles were auctioned last week by the Lagos State Government at the Task Force Yard, Ikeja.

Some of those who attended the public sale included drivers whose vehicles were seized for disobeying traffic laws.

The event was filled with different dramas from bidders and businessmen who came solely for business purposes.

The Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 states that anyone who drives in a direction prohibited by the law or neglects traffic direction will have to forfeit the vehicle as a fine and, in addition, serve one-year imprisonment for a first-time offender and three years imprisonment for second-time offenders.