Lagos Govt Wants To Amend Controversial Transport Law

The Lagos State government has said it will amend the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law (2018).

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, said that the transport law is undergoing a review by the Lagos State House of Assembly for amendment.

Onigbanjo said this on Tuesday while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

He 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.”

The latest development followed last Thursday’s auctioning that attracted serious backlash as Nigerians lamented that it was wrong for the goverment to jail offenders and still go ahead to auction their cars.

The Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 noted 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.

Though the Lagos AG assured that the laws were being reviewed, he maintained, “The law remains as at today. People should be well-advised not to jeopardise their own interest.”