The Lagos State Government has reiterated its ban on the permanent or everyday use of dealer number plates by motorists and vehicle dealers.
The Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, warning against using dealer plates for purposes not permitted by law.
She explained that under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, dealer plates are restricted to specific, time-bound activities, including authorised test drives, vehicle inspections, vehicle delivery or collection, and the movement of unregistered vehicles.
According to her, such movements must be directly from ports or authorised dealer premises to designated locations.
Ogunlola stressed that the use of dealer plates for private daily commuting, continuous operation on public roads or on vehicles that have already been sold is prohibited.
She said the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) had so far apprehended 175 vehicles for violating regulations governing dealer number plates.
The recovered dealer plates would be confiscated, while the affected vehicles would undergo further investigation, she said.
Ogunlola further warned that vehicles operating with unauthorised, fake, obscured or improperly used registration numbers would face enforcement action, including impoundment and prosecution under relevant traffic laws.
She urged motorists and vehicle dealers to comply with the regulations, noting that the measure was aimed at promoting accountability, accurate vehicle identification and safety on Lagos roads.