Lagos begins issuance of international driver’s permit

The Lagos State Government is set to commence the issuance of international driver’s permit with effect from this month, December 2022.

Lagos State Director, Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, Akin-George Fashola, disclosed this while receiving the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola, during an official visit to the head office of the VIS at Ojodu, Lagos, on Thursday.

Already, he said all stakeholders had been engaged, consent sought and the issuance process finalised.

He said the issuance of the international certificates for vehicles and International Driver’s Permits was in line with international requirements as specified in section 326  (U) of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, (TSRL) 2018, some of which he said include; class or description of vehicle and examination on the vehicle.

He also said private registered vehicles within five years from the date of manufacture would be exempted from the mandatory computerised routine inspection carried out by the VIS as stated in schedule 1, section 326 (10) of the State’s TSRL, 2018, noting that pre-registration inspections (Auto Vin) would have recorded such vehicles for exemption and all that would be required from the owners of such vehicles is to get exemption certificate from the VIS.

Fashola said the exclusion was one of the ways to prevent the computerized vehicles inspection centres across the state from being over clogged with vehicles.

The director also disclosed that the VIS had commenced a clampdown on rickety commercial vehicles without proper documentation and safety standards as prescribed, in section 12 (2) of the State’s TSRL, 2018.

He called for the support of other law enforcement agencies in ensuring that Lagos roads are free of rickety vehicles.

Addressing the vehicle inspection officers, Toriola enjoined them to work in line with the mandate of the VIS by ensuring that all vehicles plying the roads across the state meet safety standards in line with international best practices.

He also urged the directorate to intensify its advocacy and safety drive especially at this Yuletide season.