Lagos Declares VIS Officers Legally Empowered On State Roads, Says Unaffected By Abuja Court Ruling

The Lagos State Government has urged the public not to be misled by misrepresentations of a Court of Appeal judgment that deemed Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) in Abuja illegal for impounding vehicles or imposing fines.

In a statement by Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), the government clarified that the ruling, while binding, applies only to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Pedro emphasized Nigeria’s federal system, where the Constitution delegates legislative powers to federal and state governments. Vehicle inspections and traffic management fall under residual powers for states.

” The judgment binds only parties to the suit and states lacking VIS statutes—like the FCT.

“Unlike Abuja, Lagos operates under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, which empowers the State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS)”.

Full Statement Below:

PRESS STATEMENT: CLARIFICATION ON LEGALITY OF LAGOS STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION SERVICE (VIS) OFFICERS ON LAGOS ROADS VIS-A-VIS JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL, ABUJA DIVISION ON POWER OF VIO ON ROADS IN FCT ABUJA

The attention of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has been drawn to a viral report misrepresenting the Judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which affirmed the Federal High Court Abuja’s ruling on the illegality of VIO activities—such as impounding or confiscating vehicles and/or imposing fines on motorists—in FCT Abuja.

It would be recalled that sometime last year (2025), Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit, held that the respondents—including the Director of Road Transport, the Team Leader, the Area Commander Jabi, and the Minister of the FCT—lacked legal or statutory power to stop, impound, or confiscate vehicles and/or impose fines on motorists.

The judge issued an order restraining the VIO from such actions.The Honorable Judge of the Federal High Court and Justices of the Court of Appeal premised their decision on the absence of statutory power conferred on the respondents (appellants in the Court of Appeal) to stop, impound, confiscate vehicles, and/or impose fines on motorists on roads in FCT Abuja.

The Lagos State Government acknowledges that the courts’ judgments and restraining orders are valid and binding but offers the following clarifications for the public, particularly in Lagos State:The judgment, though binding, is not of general application or nationwide effect in Nigeria.Only parties to the suit and any state without a statute on VIO—like FCT Abuja—are bound by the judgments.Nigeria operates a federal system of government with clear legislative powers donated by the Constitution to federal and state governments.Vehicle inspections and traffic management are residual subjects for state governments.

Unlike the FCT Abuja, Lagos State has a statute on VIO in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law. Section 12(1) vests the State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) with powers, among others, to:(a) inspect, regulate, and ensure the roadworthiness of motor vehicles in the State;
(b) conduct pre-registration inspection of vehicles;
(c) inspect and issue Road Worthiness Certificates (RWC) for all vehicles;
(d) cooperate with other agencies to enforce traffic rules and regulations.Section 23(1) of the same law prescribes tickets for fines payable by offenders. The fine shall be paid either on the spot (if imposed by a mobile court) or within 48 hours upon issuance by an authorized officer. On default of payment, a formal charge shall be proffered against the offender in a Magistrate Court or Mobile Court, where they shall have the opportunity to defend themselves. The suspect/offender is also at liberty to challenge the ticket’s validity in court.The process and procedure for enforcing VIS officers’ powers on Lagos roads are in accordance with the law and not unlawful or unconstitutional.

Members of the public are advised not to be misled by misrepresentations of the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal judgments and to cooperate with Lagos State VIS officers on Lagos roads to avoid sanctions and their attendant consequences.The Lagos State Government will continue to ensure all transport and traffic enforcement activities on Lagos roads are conducted strictly in accordance with laws and regulations, with civility, decorum, and respect for road users.

Therefore, any motorist on Lagos roads who disobeys or assaults a VIS officer in the course of performing their statutory duty will be subject to arrest and prosecution by this Ministry.