By Opeyemi Ogunyemi
…Targets Safety, Service Quality, and Data Integrity
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to commence a mandatory inspection schedule for all e-hailing vehicles operating in the state, in a move aimed at improving road safety, enhancing service quality, and ensuring proper regulatory compliance.
Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this during a recent meeting with e-hailing operators at the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa, Ikeja. He expressed concern over the poor condition of some vehicles under licensed platforms, stressing that any car found unfit will be barred from Lagos roads.
According to Osiyemi, the state has recorded rising safety concerns and substandard service delivery from some operators, prompting the need for a thorough audit. He warned that Lagos will not tolerate practices that put lives at risk.
The Commissioner also pointed out that many e-hailing platforms lack reliable databases, making it harder to track drivers and address criminal incidents linked to their services. “We will not hesitate to impose sanctions where necessary,” he said.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olawale Musa, added that all operating vehicles must be registered with the Lagos State Government and drivers certified by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI). He noted that using unregistered vehicles poses serious security risks and hinders effective monitoring.
Musa also advised passengers to avoid booking rides offline, warning that doing so bypasses built-in safety features such as panic buttons, driver verification, and trip tracking.
Representatives from leading e-hailing companies, including Uber, Bolt, Lagride, InDrive, Laurie, Vas Acquico, Folti Tech, and EDryv, shared recent safety upgrades during the meeting. These include stricter driver verification, improved onboarding processes, and enhanced emergency response features.
Osiyemi urged operators to prioritise empathy, safety, and customer satisfaction over profit, while ensuring they complete all pending licensing and regulatory requirements.
The inspection schedule, to be rolled out in the coming weeks, is expected to become a key measure in enforcing standards and boosting public confidence in Lagos’s growing e-hailing sector.
