Nigeria, August 22, 2016 – The Lagos State Government has denied enforcing traffic infractions through electronic billing system contrary to information circulating online.
In a statement, Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Biola Fagunwa said the ministry has not issued any statement of intention to enforce traffic infractions through Electronic Billing System. According to him, the system is not new or specific to the ministry. “It is the fines and fees segment of the central Billing System of the State Government that came into effect a few months earlier. The use of e – tickets is not just taking off”, he said.
According to him, as part of the Central Billing System adopted by the Lagos State Government to manage its revenue process, the fines imposed by agencies under the Ministry of Transportation has been changed to e – ticketing.
“The Electronic Billing System, an automation system, involves removal of hand written tickets and its replacement with an electronically generated fine ticket which makes it less susceptible to human frailties.
“The introduction, which is to be generally implemented by all the agencies of the State Government, is already being implemented by concerned agencies including the Ministry of Transportation of which LASTMA and Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) are part.
“Fines to be paid are in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012 schedule I dealing with “Traffic Offences Penalties”. The fines ranges from N20, 000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) only to N250, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only depending on the offence and the number of times such a person has been apprehended”, he said.
While noting that the Ministry of Transportation is committed to promoting the culture of safety and security on the road, he urge the general public to be obedient to the officials who are to see to management of traffic on the road as well as obey all regulations and rules as established by the Ministry in its quest for sanity on Lagos roads.
“The introduction of the regime of e-tickets is not punitive as the State Government will prefer obedience to the law leading to sanity on the road than all the financial resources that could accrue from the exercise”, he said.
He said that road infraction fines are of general application and not specific to any group of motorists.
“The Ministry of Transportation and its Agencies are determined to ensure compliance to the provisions of the State’s Road Traffic Law 2012 and will do so mindful of the right of citizens. Part of the information being circulated includes fines due to re-certification of drivers by Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI)”, he said.
He said that while the statement circulating stipulates fines and what offences attract fines as if they are new, he added that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS) will only continue to operate within the confines of the Traffic Law of 2012 and not on any new rules.
