By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, has ordered the ban of indiscriminate display of vehicles for sale across the state, with effect from 1 January, 2009.
In a bid to sanitise the sector, Fashola said the state was ready to enforce the motor administration law which provides for registration and regulation of the activities of motor vehicle and motor vehicle spare parts dealers within the state.
Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, disclosed yesterday, at a stakeholders’ meeting with motor vehicle dealers in the state, that the law would be in force as from 1 January, 2009.
Badejo stated that when the law becomes operational, it would become practically impossible for an unregistered auto dealer to operate in the state, adding that it would become illegal for anybody to personally sell vehicles without going through a registered dealer.
“It will be illegal for anybody to display vehicles on the roadside for sale as such act runs contrary to the town and physical planning as well as environmental laws, apart from providing a ready channel for disposing stolen vehicles.
“On the other hand, members of the public willing to buy a car will be confident that he/she is buying a problem-free product as the dealer is operating under the stipulated law,” he stated.
Badejo disclosed that when the law comes into force, innocent citizens would no longer fall foul of the law for having bought stolen vehicles from unregistered premises and faceless sellers.
“A lot of stolen vehicles have been discovered through the Autoreg system. It is the buyer that is arrested and in most cases, investigation may be inconclusive as the seller may have disappeared.
“We must protect those unsuspecting citizens as well as genuine dealers who are here. Let me say that the state government is out to protect the consumer, not by this law alone, but through another law in the making, now in the State House of Assembly.
“I want to reveal that from January next year, the law will be implemented to the letter and I want to appeal to you to support the government in this direction,” he told the auto-dealers.
Permanent Secretary, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, Mr. Akin Hanson, also disclosed that as from 1 January, 2008, the agency would stop issuance of change of ownership on any car except it is certified through a registered motor dealer. “We were about to start the implementation of the law, but Governor Babatunde Fashola decided that we should talk about this law with motor dealers first. We want to drive out quacks,” he stated.
Brown
17 September 2008 19:10Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo should know better,that,protecting consumers and depriving private individuals from disposing off their personal property(ies) is contradicting.
Protection of consumers can only be achieved if there is proper car registration/ownership/transfer of ownership process is in place.
With the “mad house” in Nigeria with duplication of functions in all government agencies(FRSC & Vehicle licensing office),The Lagos governor should look into transparent enforcement of enabling laws/bye laws and specification of functions of government agencies for effective monitoring.
Prof. Bamidele Badejo,why do want to create a problem for Fashola.If you want to control vehicle and their ownership,you can create a Data base where change of ownership can be effected,ownership can be changed to a name/person with a valid drivers license.
Gov Fashola is a lawyer,a SAN for that matter and he knows the responsibilities place on buyers/sellers under the Consumer protection Acts and Sales of Good s Acts.
This is a free society and you cannot prevent a private individual from displaying his/her old car in front of his house for sale.
Segun
17 September 2008 19:46What happens if one wants to sell his car, must he pass thru the so called registered motor dealer?
Sunny U
17 September 2008 23:21I sure know that some of these laws/revenue-generating methods being churned out on daily bases in Lagos State must have biases. Sanity and orderliness is good but please try also to develop infrastructure, conducive and alternative avenues for people to make a decent livelihood before you start driving them up and down in the name of sanitizing the system. I just pray that this avalanche of advisers will not lead Gov Fasola astray.
Martin Mahen
18 September 2008 03:23I hope the process for registration will be as transparent as the legislation. The problem of stolen vehicle is not with legislation and or registration. The problem lies with law enforcement; making sure that vehicles are not stolen in the first place. The various law enforcement agencies should be alive to their responsibilities and not pass the bulk at the slightest instance. If you make it difficult for people to earn a living selling used cars in Lagos, there are many other states in the country that will welcome them with open arms. And what will happen to private sales? Legitimate owners of cars who wishes to sell their cars. Not in Lagos?
Emmyz
19 September 2008 13:50Lagos State Governemnt should try as much as possible to seek Lagosians opinions on highly sensitive legislation like this before they conclude on it. From the look of this, arrangement and conclusion has been drawn. Fine, the govt intend to curb the society of crime, but in the means of doing this it should consider how it would affect the economy - business and other aspect of life - governement should borrow a leaf from hasty legislations made in recent times. Silence on this issue is denegrous, Lagosians should send their opinion. My own opinoin is - GOVT SHOULD THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE AND NOT “BAN ON CAR DEALERS”
http://www.buyandsellcar.blogspot.com
Used Car Dealers Ottawa
27 September 2008 01:03Always the scapegoat, let us do our job!
Neil
Yemi O'peju
19 October 2008 23:43Good things as they say don’t come easy. This is a sign of good thing coming judged by these criticisms. Lagos can’t be better if Fashola doesn’t step on toes so fellas get your iron boots cos Fashola is stepping on toes for good and for the benefit of all. I think Lagosians need a sixth sense to think further and see clearer in his view. Governor Babatunde Fashola, I’ll always envy you, keep up the good work.
tony
19 October 2008 23:55bad bad policy, infringing on the rights of citizens using the lame excuse of protecting us. what arrogance
Felix George
20 October 2008 01:26Whatever is to be done,Due process is important though i strongly believe that stolen cars could still be resold through some criminally minded dealers…….but the idea is a very good one and it will only remain goods if carried out the proper way!! you can joing the discussion on this on http://www.justicenigeria.com forum for comments
RUBBISH TALK
22 October 2008 17:26What if one needs to sell his personal AUTO for an urgent financial scourge!… ?
HUH….