43,000 driving licences unclaimed in Lagos transport offices

The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka
| credits: File copy

The Lagos State Government says no fewer than 43,000 driving licences are waiting to be collected by their owners.

It added that the licences, which were for applicants of the new Universal Driving Licence that had completed their processing last August, could be collected in various licencing centres in the state.

A statement on Wednesday stated that the Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said this after a meeting with the officials of state’s Motor Vehicle Administration Agency on the scheme.

Opeifa said, “The government has increased the number of driving licence processing points from six to 12 to cope with the volume of applicants.

“We are also working hard to resolve the challenges posed by inadequate data capture machines by the Federal Road Safety Corps.”

The commissioner appealed to residents of the state to renew their driving licence, urging them not to wait till June 2014 deadline. He said such could create unnecessary pressure on the facilities.

Opeifa said all transportation agencies in the state – Vehicle Inspection Service,  Drivers’ Institute and the MVAA – were still offering their services to members of the public every Saturday.

He added that the last Saturday of each month, dedicated to the monthly environmental sanitation, was not included.

Opeifa said, “The state has started the full enforcement of the new public transport management system, which involves the accreditation of all commercial passenger vehicle owners and operators.

“However, the accreditation still continues. The VIS and LDI are available for Saturday services at their offices.”