The Lagos State Government has started releasing impounded vehicles to their owners for free.
Due to the cash crunch caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) Naira redesign policy, the state government said it decided to waive the fine associated with such seizures.
Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, confirmed this on Tuesday, March 7, saying Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had extended the palliative measures by ensuring that vehicles impounded for minor traffic violations were returned to their owners with fines waived.
He stated;
"When you look at what the governor proposed, especially during the cash crunch period, we have reduced public transportation fares by 50%. So, when you ride our BRTs and all the Lagos state funded public transport, including Lag Ride, we have reduced the fare by 50% just to alleviate the suffering of our people.
“Apart from that, moving away from transport, we have opened up food banks in certain areas. So we’re beginning to give out palliative just to ensure that people get through this cash crunch period.
“We’re happy that APC has won at the national level. And we are beginning to see some of these policies being reversed. So we’re hoping that in a short time, life would return back to normal but in terms of public transport, I think we’ve reduced fare by 50%.
“There are some people that committed offences during that period and we understand the fact that money wasn’t easy to come by. Looking at the governor’s magnanimity, the governor has deemed it fit to ensure that people who committed crimes within that period and wanted to pay or couldn’t pay as a result of the shortage of cash, they should come and pick up their cars and he has waved the fines.
“Mind you, that does not include major crimes committed. These are just minor traffic offences that have been committed in Lagos and this is showing empathy and trying to understand that look, we understand how difficult it has been and it is not a reason for us to stop you from making ends meet and so hence the governor’s magnanimity.
“All those who have committed crime within that period should come and pick up