Yaayyyy……. Wedding bells are ringing and Tole and Tobechukwu (not real names) are getting married on the 20th of February, 2016.
Whilst I was basking in the joy that my sister was getting married to her heartthrob, I had forgotten a few details about my car.

My car documents had expired and I decided to renew them through someone I had trusted over the years, in a blink of an eye reaching this man became impossible almost immediately after I parted with the funds required to renew my car documents and at least pursue the renewal of my driver’s license to the point where I needed to provide myself for capturing.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months and there is still no sign of my renewed documentation neither have I been informed to come over for driving test by the VIS or capturing by the FRSC. Trust my wife, she had been on my case to the point that I only drove early mornings or late night, on weekends no driving to owambe (party). If I had to drive, I will ensure that I avoided all known spots where VIO or FRSC are known to do spot checks. This way I was good until the 18th of February 2016.

So I took a day off work and decided to run errands for my parents in preparation for the wedding. I had successfully manoeuvred all known hot spots these guys stay and was now going into an unknown territory, a place where my mum needed to pick some things from the market.

That day my wife (with great instinct said, “baby, how about your license, I responded saying , it’s almost ready” in my mind of minds am like “me wey never even capture ,how e wan take dey ready?”

With my lovely sunglasses on and really feeling cool, I was just cruising forgetting the details of my care and listening to my favourite radio station (smooth 98.1). There was a turning to the right and Wala, there they were (the angels in white flagging me down, my car is awesomely clean, why the hell should these guys think they need to ask me anything?). My heart raised and with a million questions in my head, do I stop, do I reverse? Do I speed off? Do I just form stopping and then speed off? Tchai my mum is here, my sis inlaw is also in the car, if I speed off, I might not be the gentleman they know, if I should stop, we will all have to “beg” which I know will not work in this case. In seconds, I was parked to the side kerb

VIO: good afternoon sir (looking out for another car, just in case I have all he asks for and I don’t fall prey), can I see your driver’s license?
Me: it’s being processed.
VIO: how about your insurance and vehicle license?
Me: have it
VIO: something must be wrong somewhere, I didn’t not expect you to not to drive without a license. We are impounding your car until you renew all documents.
Me: what?! Impounding? My sister’s wedding is in less than 48 hours away. “My head don fly, I don think about my account balance say tchai, inside this dollar crunch, where I go see money settle these guys? Wetin I go tell my wife when I reach house (I dare not tell her over the phone (cos she will be just too worried)...well worst case I go dash them the car until I see small change.

We got to the VIO office and my car was parked (they did not deflate the tyres) and then they booked me a fine of N60,000 and I have to renew all documents before my car was released. What that meant was that I will part with at least N100k……men, that was big money (if I gave it to my sis towards her wedding, she go pray for me wella).

After raking and creating a scene, the guys there said Oga calm down, u don’t have to pay the 60k,all you need do is renew the papers and get your licence then you can go and make your case at Alausa with the chief vehicle inspection officer , he has the power to slash your fine to may be about N30k.

Me: Omo 30k still plenty ooo …for this good times wey we dey?
Same day, I renewed my documents with about roughly 10k. (My wife had heard nothing about my experience).

Thinking hard as to how to tell my wife that the car will be unavailable for the wedding which meant that we will have to hire a decent cab for the day was what I did not find easy to come to terms with…anyway I still had to be the man (manage her, her feelings about the situation and the cash and time we will have to invest in the coming week to enable us have our car back).
I got home taking public transport(reminded me of the days of old, tchai with some tomatoes sellers who do not care where u are headed or coming from, even if na suit u wear, dem no mind rub off on your white shirt(not put anybody down). Paid fare of N60, I was like really? who asks a fare of N60? I thought we only like round figures in Nigeria, its either N50 or N100.

When I got home, my wife was right there in the kitchen, I had my usual excited, bubbly mode activated so that she wouldn’t suspect (anyway, I still have to tell her), I went in, took a shower and them came back to the sitting room.

Me: Baby , I need to tell you something
Wifey: Wassup, talk to me
Me: you know you said something about the car today
Wifey: yes, what happened, hope you did not have an accident
Me: No, the worst fear happened
Wifey: it’s a lie, don’t tell me you were caught. He facial expression already changing.
Me; No, I did not bring the car home, infact we cant have it for the wedding
Wifey: (now looking worried) walks to the driveway to confirm if I was right, comes back and says, Its well!
I had to assure her that we will be fine and that car will be released tomorrow.

19th February, 2016 (Wedding Eve)

I headed to the VIO office for the license I had paid for the previous day. I got there at about 11am and until 5pm, they said that my payment confirmation was not yet ready from the bank ( after I paid 15k for express service?, I began to wonder at the inefficiency displayed. Over 5hrs waiting for a bank confirmation). I closed with the VIS today and all I had done was to mope and sit around for just one bank payment confirmation an officer had handled and termed “express”

All the while, my car sits under the sun in some dusty compound with almost zero security. I was hoping if I had the confirmation come on same day, I would quickly head to Alausa and meet the Chief VIO and plead with him to slash my fine. The confirmation did not come, so its 100 Percent effort today and no result. Who rewards effort? Nobody!

20th February (Wedding Day)
The D-day is here and here am I with no car. I have a family to move around as well as some little errands in preparation for the events of the day. I did not tell my Sis what had been my experience within the last two days…..and I have still not told her (its not her headache).
Rented a car all day for about 15k and still thinking about the N100k to be spent to get the car back.
Wedding went smooth, Sis and hubby were happy and then the event was over….now I need to plan to visit VIO offices and FRSC……and get my car BACK!!!
On Sunday, I Slept all day as were tired from the previous day event and calmed wifey down.

22nd February
Got the temporary drivers’ license at about 11:33am. I immediately headed to Alausa, I asked after the Oga and they said he was in a meeting, after about an hour, he had a break from the meeting. I approached him and told him my predicament, He then slashed the fine to 15k, this was a beam of hope.

I paid the fine, got my receipt and headed for the local VIO officer where my car was. I presented the receipt and then the VIO officer asked that I go and clear myself with the LIRS (tax office) in same compound (she gave me that “u go hear am today” look)
Asked God for favour, as I had misplaced my tax card, even though I had the Payer ID.
Long story short, I had myself cleared, paid a demurrage of N3k and took possession of my car.
As I was driving down, I got to a sharp corner around acme road at Ogba, the Men in Black parked me and said why my car was dusty and who owns the car, he said my car was dusty which means it may have been stolen. Stolen? I laughed within me. If only this officer knew what ordeal I just overcame. (I wonder why a police officer will just make a generalistic assumption, naija I hail thee!)

Walahi, I no give the guy 1kobo cos my papers were now up to date. Infact, I said if he gives me money I will collect because VIO don suck me dry.

He let me go without taking anything, I was darn proud(the police was truly my friend)

My lessons:
- Never drive with an expired document
- When in doubt ,don’t drive( hard, but will save you a lot of stress)
- Don’t give anyone money to process your documentation
- Take out time to check your documents, once in a while
- Made me a better family man/ crisis manager

#it can save someone a huge psychological stress.

Lesson learnt...

INTERESTING STORY

mine was 2k fine for expired papers only to renew it for 4k

Wonderful 3days story.
Using proxy no good at times. These things are done in 1day or in a few hours.

Lesson learnt

Sorry..

Dos guys dont have hearts In my own opinion

Eyah! Sorry!
All these happened and you didn't cry? Weldone. Kpèlè.

Pele OP, atleast you have your complete papers now

Baba God wen will I mak "first to comment"...

will be back.to finish the st0ry.

kai, all these people too like settlement.... 5k and above or you go reach their office

--- I NO GET CAR, I NO GET WIFE !!!!!-----

Hmmmm

I have been driving round town in my Kia Sorento for the past one year now without one single valid document. Just like the OP, I know every spot where FRSC and VIOs are in Lagos. But I don't fear Police, na money them that one go chop. The last time I was arrested somewhere in Ajegunle, na money I give them.

But God, willing, I go find money go do my papers and driver's license because the thing don tire me to dey hide here and there.

My papers expired since January 2015.

Gave one guy momey to help renew, he stopped picking my calls since.
It would have been a lovely thing if one could do it himselfbut by the time you see all the requirements, you just have to use am agent.

Same thing with renewing international passport. Many bottlenecks to encourage agents and touts.

I wonder why things have to be that rigorous

U no be warri boy I guess

Go to police state commands, FIRS, FRSC offices and see guys with the shock of their life... cars with unassigned plate numbers or altogether fake. Yet those who helped them collected full processing.

Even if someone is going to do it on your behalf, maybe due to your schedule, take time to verify authenticity when you're less busy.
A stitch in time ....

summary pls

mbhs139:
I have been driving round town in my Kia Sorento for the past one year now without one single valid document. Just like the OP, I know every spot where FRSC and VIOs are in Lagos. But I don't fear Police, na money them that one go chop. The last time I was arrested somewhere in Ajegunle, na money I give them.

But God, willing, I go find money go do my papers and driver's license because the thing don tire me to dey hide here and there.

The funny thing is that even if you don't process your vehicle license for five years, whenever you're ready, they'll calculate the five years arrears for you. So in the end, if you add the amount you used to settle; you've only ended up cheating yourself.

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oh k

Nice reading, always do the needful at the right time, the other day FRSC thought they had got me, let's check your reverse parking light.

Alas they frowned when it was working.

My story

my boss owns a truck we use for work...he has complete papers except LASRI....(whatever that means) well we were going to the factorx to buy materials...my boss was driving and as we were approaching a bend na so we jam the guys in white...boss first divert enter filling station and started looking for escape tactics...(smart guy) well he took the way he came and ran one way till we got to a diversion and then he enter street...i just dey shout JAGABAN... Over that same Lasri shii we have paid 11k before and the dude was determined not to pay a dime...he did the papers before but it got lost...if to say those guys catch us that day...na die we dey

My car papers has expired since November and I still travel with it from ekiti -lagos frequently .. Not really interested in renewing the papers as I intend to sell d car off soon...

they don't stop trailers here. when you sight them, wait for a trailer, follow the trailer closely, and gbam, they are behind you. with your story now, I will have to renew my papers.

Lesson learnt, I hope I don't fall a victim

semitunde:


The funny thing is that even if you don't process your vehicle license for five years, whenever you're ready, they'll calculate the five years arrears for you. So in the end, if you add the amount you used to settle; you've only ended up cheating yourself.

no better way to put it! why wait to be caught and waste time n money when u will eventually pay for it!

always ensure ur documents r up to date, and like someone advised, pls verify d authenticity of every document u get thru an agent. without knowing it, u may be driving wt fake docuements.

A word is enof for d wise!

Lagos driving Rule 1: don't follow any officer to their office.

Rule 2 : be polite wether ur papers are complete or not.
Good Afternoon sir. How is work today. Can save u plenty headache.

Cool story

I ve been driving my car for 6years now and I always registered via a road safety woman . The only issue I had was with elere police station . They said my insurance was fake and immediately they took me to their station and their computer expert open www.askniid.org and they inserted my plate number and it says expired. I gave the police 2k and the next day I went for the 5k insurance which is on the niid database. For my drivers licence I paid same woman 17k and she schedule my capturing date and everything was fine never had issues. It depends on whom u re dealing with. I didn't blame her for the insurance cos she told me to pay 5k for it but I refused because I thought it was much.