Lagos warns motorists against fake vehicle identification numbers

By John Ogunsemore

The Lagos State Government has warned private and commercial motorists engaged in the illicit practices of using fraudulent vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and concealing their registration plates to desist immediately.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa issued the stern warning, according to a statement signed by Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq.

Giwa underscored the Lagos State Government’s unyielding stance against these infractions, emphasising that they constitute a flagrant violation of established traffic laws and pose grave security risks to the state.

“The Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, unequivocally mandates the proper display of Vehicle Identification Numbers on all automobiles traversing the state’s road network,” he said.

Giwa reiterated that no legal provision sanctions the use of counterfeit VINs or obscured number plates, warning that defaulters would be met with the full force of the law.

Speaking on the broader implications, the governor’s aide highlighted the robust Lagos State Vehicle Identification Database, which serves as a critical tool for tracking registered vehicles, aiding in identification, and facilitating the recovery of stolen automobiles.

“Just as every individual bears a name beyond their choice, so too does every vehicle possess an assigned number plate, which must be displayed without obstruction,” he remarked.

Giwa decried the difficulties faced by security agencies and traffic enforcement officers in tracing vehicles implicated in criminal activities such as “One-Chance” robberies and other traffic violations, due to these unlawful practices.

Consequently, the governor’s aide issued a final warning to all motorists involved in these acts, charging them to immediately remove any coverings from their number plates and cease the use of fake identification numbers.

He said failure to comply would result in swift arrest and prosecution.

He said the Lagos State Government remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives, ensuring public security, and enforcing strict adherence to the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.