Get out of Lagos roads! Governor Ambode orders VIO

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode,the Governor of  Lagos State, has ordered the state’s Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs out of Lagos roads with immediate effect.
Ambode reportedly gave the order following public complaints regarding the unruly behavior of some of the VIO officers.

A source told a media house that the story carried by a national daily recently which alleged that the VIOs burnt the vehicle of a motorist arrested had not gone down well with the governor who would not tolerate unruliness in his administration.

Asides this, some complaints about supposed high-handedness and over-zealousness of some VIOs were other reasons the governor ordered them out of Lagos roads until further instruction.

A top government source who does not want his name mentioned said the order by the governor for VIOs to vacate Lagos road was unconnected with the alleged report of assaulting a motorist and burning the vehicle.

A VIO source alleged that the driver lied against the officers as the agency could not have carried out such debilitating action.

A source added that the Ministry of Transportation was working frantically to arrange training for VIOs so that they could get back on the road soonest, but that for now, they would be off the road on the order of the governor.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, in his reaction said: “The truth is the transport ministry is undergoing restructuring, including the VIO. The commissioner for transportation had made some recommendations, which he will present at the State Executive Council meeting and things can move forward from there.

“But we all believed that the VIO activities should be technologically driven.”