LAGOS GOVERNMENT RELEASES IMPOUNDED VEHICLES TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Government has started returning impounded vehicles to owners who have not yet paid fines.

Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, the state's commissioner for transportation, made this announcement on Tuesday in Lagos.

He stated that the process began last Saturday and is still ongoing. The state government made the decision as a measure to ease the cash crunch that its citizens were experiencing as a result of the Central Bank of Nigeria's naira redesign policy.

The commissioner stated that fines would be dropped and vehicles seized for minor traffic infractions would be released to their owners.

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 crimes 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 waved the fines.

"Mind you, that does not include major crimes 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 and so right now, what we are doing is to caution them not to commit the offence again."

Remember that the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reduced BRT fares by 50% as a palliative measure to mitigate the impact of the naira redesign policy on residents of the state.