Lagos Orders Mandatory Inspection of All E-Hailing Vehicles Over Safety Concerns

The Lagos State Government has directed a mandatory inspection of all vehicles operating under licensed e-hailing platforms in the state, citing rising concerns over passenger safety, poor service delivery, and regulatory non-compliance.

In a statement titled “LASG to Roll Out Inspection Schedule for E-Hailing Operators”, released on Sunday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the move is part of broader efforts to enhance safety standards, service quality, and ensure full regulatory compliance across the e-hailing sector.

According to Osiyemi, the ministry had observed “the deplorable condition of some vehicles operated by drivers under licensed e-hailing platforms within the state, necessitating a comprehensive audit of all vehicles in use.”

He warned that, “any vehicle found unsuitable will not be allowed to operate on Lagos roads.”

Osiyemi also expressed concern about some platforms’ failure to maintain adequate databases of their drivers and vehicles, a gap that he said hampers effective tracking of crimes linked to e-hailing services.

Echoing the commissioner’s concerns, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, stressed that the use of unregistered vehicles in e-hailing services “will no longer be tolerated,” as it “poses significant security risks.”

He also emphasized that all e-hailing drivers must be certified by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI), and urged commuters to avoid offline bookings in order to preserve safety and accountability.

The government made its position clear during a meeting held at the Ministry of Transportation in Alausa, Ikeja, which was attended by major e-hailing stakeholders including representatives from Uber, Bolt, Lagride, Laurie, Vas Acquico, InDrive, Folti Tech, and EDryv.

At the meeting, platform representatives presented updates on safety features, including the rollout of panic buttons and more robust driver verification systems.

The inspection schedule and enforcement measures are expected to be announced in the coming days as the state moves to tighten control over the fast-growing e-hailing industry.