The Lagos State Government plans to install 3,000 smart cameras across the city in a bid to track speed violations and other offences.
Akin-George Fashola, director of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), confirmed this plan during a radio programme on Tuesday.“Enforcement is about to get tougher,” he said.
“This year, the VIS will focus more on enforcing speed limits in Lagos. It’s not a new initiative, but we need to be more rigorous in implementation.”
Some of these smart surveillance cameras are already operational in some parts of Lagos. Alapere, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, and Allen Junction have been fitted with devices designed to track motorists’ compliance with traffic rules.
Speed limits are set at 80 km/h inbound Alausa and 60 km/h outbound toward Oworonshoki due to pedestrian movement. On Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, the limit is 60 km/h, showing the area’s dense population and high pedestrian traffic.
Beyond speed control, cameras at Allen Junction focus on catching red-light runners and other road violations. The government’s approach is focused on electronic monitoring which will be the backbone of road safety enforcement.
Drivers who exceed speed limits will be fined ₦50,000, with notifications sent via SMS. However, motorists who believe they were wrongly fined can contest it with proof. Fashola assured that the government would provide tech-based evidence to support its claims.
To further strengthen compliance, the VIS is improving its roadworthiness certification system. Vehicle owners can now renew their roadworthiness certificates online, eliminating the need to visit VIS centres physically. This service is part of a goal to digitise vehicle records and enhance accountability on Lagos roads.
For those wondering if commercial buses are excluded from these measures, the answer is no. On average, 50 commercial vehicles are caught daily for various traffic offences. The VIS, in collaboration with park chairmen, is also conducting inspections directly at parks and garages to ensure compliance.
Fashola urged motorists to use any of the 45 VIS centres across Lagos to keep their vehicles roadworthy, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility. “We must slow people down to reduce the high rate of accidents in the state,” he emphasised.
