Why we released, waived fines on impounded vehicles – Lagos commissioner

Lagos State Government says it has commenced the release of some impounded vehicles to their owners without any payment of fines.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said the decision was made as part of measures to ease the cash crunch on the citizens as a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy.

The commissioner said vehicles impounded for minor traffic offences were released to their owners and fines waived.

He said, “There are some people that committed offences during that period and we understand the fact that money wasn’t easy to come by.

“Looking at the governor’s magnanimity, the governor has deemed it fit to ensure that people who committed crime within that period and wanted to pay or couldn’t pay as a result of the shortage of cash, should come and pick up their cars and he has waived the fines.

“Mind you, that does not include major crime committed. These are just minor traffic offences that have been committed in Lagos and this is showing empathy and trying to understand that look, we understand how difficult it has been and it is not a reason for us to stop you from making ends meet and so hence the governor’s magnanimity.

“All those who have committed a crime within that period should come and pick up their cars; that doesn’t mean people should continue to offend. So right now, what we are doing is to caution them not to commit the offence again.”

The commissioner further stated, “When you look at what the governor proposed, especially during the cash crunch period, we have reduced public transport fares by 50 per cent. So when you go on our BRTs and all the Lagos state-funded public transport, including Lag Ride, we have reduced the fare by 50 per cent just to alleviate the suffering of our people.

“Apart from that, moving away from transport, we have opened up food banks in certain areas. So we’re beginning to give out palliatives just to ensure that people get through this cash crunch period.

“We’re happy that APC has won at the national level and we are beginning to see some of these policies being reversed.

“So we’re hoping that in a short time, life would return to normal.”