gents,
recently, i travelled to the countryside and on my way back was accosted by our 'friends' the police. they checked all my documents and when they couldn't find any fault, they started asking for my vehicle road worthiness certificate. i then replied that my vehicle is not a commercial vehicle hence does not need a road worthiness certificate. on hearing that, they promptly stopped two private vehicles and showed me proof that they both had the certificate even though they were not commercial. i became non-plussed but not wanting to be outwitted, i smartly asked them why they were doing the work of vehicle inspection officers (vio). my question seemed to anger them and they began boasting that btw the police and vehicle inspection officers, the police has the upper hand. they also threatened to impound my car until i produced the required certificate. to cut a long story short, i had to part with 1500 before i could go free.

the question here is this: between the police and vehicle inspection officers (vio), which of them is really empowered by law to check for vehicle road worthiness certificates?

In Nigeria, anythng goes. But by implication VIO is empowered to asked anythng about a vehicle,likewise FRSC. Police may also search to comfirm if the car isnt stolen but have no business with road worthiness. RW is to show if the vehicle is fit to ply the road and has nothing to do with security.

Nigeria . . . sigh . . a good lawsuit will stop all this trash!

^Though it will never happen

Police will make up anything to take money
in Owerri They stole 1500N because I didnt have papers for tinted glass

@ Fhemmmy,

Now, the NDLEA Agents wanted to see my Tax clearance in the USA for the last 5 years.

The same thing happened to me last year. They said they wanted to make sure that I am not into money laundering. The good thing is that once I provided the requested documents, they released the Bill of Lading without asking for any money.

@George-D
I had a similar experience that made me part 2grand at Abia highway enroute to Ebonyi from P.H. I gave the same reason of not being a commercial vehicle and even a brand new car bought in P.H. That didn't stop them. Rather they asked 'what if it has had an accident new or not?'. Other vehicles were also being stopped and those not complying being threatened to be taken to the police station. I had to pay to continue my journey.

On my return I promptly got one at 2grand just to have easy travel. In Naija, you can't really beat these guys, can you?

gifo, fhemmmy, bizBooks, etc,
thank you all for your contributions. what really annoyed me was the day in question was a sunday and the police knew there was no way i could go get any road worthiness certificate that day.
they really had me by the balls!

my understanding is  cars that are above the legal age are required to obtain the road worthiness permit, right or wrong i cant say.

i have it on my camry for the first time since 2005 this yr 2010 cos it over 10 yrs but not on my accord 2005 cos its less than10yrs and all policemen who dont know their job have gladly learn from me on the high way cos i travel alot.

know your right and be confident about it.

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Never Neglect Lights such as; CHECK ENGINE, ABS, SRS AIRBAG, MAINTENANCE REQUIRED, TRAC ON and the rest.

We are trained for all these.

CONTACT: EASTSIDE ENGINEERING LIMITED 08035496482

seal777:

my understanding is cars that are above the legal age are required to obtain the road worthiness permit, right or wrong i cant say.

i have it on my camry for the first time since 2005 this yr 2010 cos it over 10 yrs but not on my accord 2005 cos its less than10yrs and all policemen who dont know their job have gladly learn from me on the high way cos i travel alot.

know your right and be confident about it.

seal,
are you saying the road worthiness certificate is only required in vehicles that are above 10 years of age? is that a fact?

George_D:

seal,
are you saying the road worthiness certificate is only required in vehicles that are above 10 years of age? is that a fact?

i don't think so

well, maybe seal should come out with his facts.

The law pegs the maximum age of cars to be imported into the country as good and fit to be driven on nigerian road at 10 yrs. All other cars older than 10 yrs need be certified fit and worthy to ply nigerian road and that re to be done on yearly basis.

Its a fact i ve proven times without number. I AM VERY SURE OF MY ACCERTION.

Ask the question, what is there to be certified worthy in a car almost brand new?.

seal,
unless you can prove this with the law, you might as well be talking to the empty air as far as our police 'friends' are concerned.

another thing, wouldn't it be foolhardy arguing with a hungry policeman with a loaded gun under the hot afternoon sun?

Road worthiness is required for vehicles above 5 years. One wonders though if the roads are actually vehicle-worthy.

George_D:

seal,
unless you can prove this with the law, you might as well be talking to the empty air as far as our police 'friends' are concerned.

another thing, wouldn't it be foolhardy arguing with a hungry policeman with a loaded gun under the hot afternoon sun?

Apt question that! After you are kept for hours and very well frustrated I bet you wont see a law court on the highway to prove your case.

good talk, gifo!

bro..the difference is that 15h o

i am as confused as you are because somethings will happen here and you will wonder if this is another planet.

Their chief weapon is just time wasting and not the gun, if not, person for stay there and fight for his right.

ESEL: FOR YOUR MOBILE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE ON YOUR CAR, CALL 08035496482 or 08055673680. We will Diagnose your Car and get back your Car in good shape anywhere (Mobile Service).

Never Neglect Lights such as; CHECK ENGINE, ABS, SRS AIRBAG, MAINTENANCE REQUIRED, TRAC ON and the rest.

We are trained for all these.

CONTACT: EASTSIDE ENGINEERING LIMITED 08035496482

are u commenting or asking for hel[p]?

SPACE BOOKING FOR FUTURE COMMENT.

The Lagos State Government says private vehicles below 5 years from date of manufacture do not require road worthiness certificate. However, the State Director for Vehicle Inspection Service, Gbolahan Toriola says all vehicles meant for commercial use, whether brand new or fairly used would require the certificate, in line with the state’s road traffic law. Toriola told correspondent Esther Oyegue, that to obtain a Road Worthiness certificate, the vehicle must be presented for physical check by Vehicle Inspection Officials, to ensure it does not endanger other road users.
While warning that driving without valid papers attracts penalty, Toriola said the state government is not interested in the fine, but in ensuring that Lagosians are safe on the roads.

Lagos State Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, Gbolahan Afeez Toriola, says the MOT certificate is for private vehicles while the Road Worthiness certificate is for companies and commercial vehicles.

Toriola made the clarification in a phone-in programme of Lagos Traffic Radio to clear the air on the confusion making the rounds on the heels of the new traffic law in force in Lagos State.

He also added that the MOT test is done once a year while the road worthiness is to be done twice a year.

He stated that MOT is valid anywhere in Nigeria and could be paid for at the designated banks which include Sterling Bank,UBA,Zenith,GTBank,Eco Bank,Access Bank and First Bank

The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer in Lagos State, Mr. Gbolahan Toriola, and the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Frank Mba, have called on motorists to report any law enforcement agent trying to extort money from them for not possessing Certificate of Road Worthiness.


The two men, who spoke against the backdrop of allegations of extortion over the CRW being levelled against VIOs and policemen in Lagos State, said it was wrong for the officers to demand for the CRW from private vehicle owners.


”Road worthiness certificate is for commercial and heavy duty vehicles like buses, trucks and so on. The only certificate that private vehicle owners are expected to possess is the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) certificate,” Toriola said.


According to him, MOT certificate is in consonance with the prescription of the Federal Government in relation to the particulars that vehicles are expected to have.


”What we have done is to extract it to suit our interest in Lagos State, and the Federal Government and all the states of the federation are aware of this,” he said. He added that once a private vehicle owner tenders the MOT certificate to law enforcement agents who request for it while on duty, asking him to produce a CRW is unnecessary.


While admitting that his office had been receiving complaints on the high-handedness of some policemen and VIOs over the road worthiness certificate issue, he called on those affected to report the errant officers to the appropriate authorities.


”Every vehicle inspection officer has a name tag. Such an officer should be reported to his superiors. Also, policemen who demand for road worthiness certificate from private vehicle owners should be reported to police authorities, because it does not fall under their jurisdiction,” he added.


Speaking on the same issue, Mba, told our correspondent that the major vehicle particulars that policemen were expected to demand for include vehicle licence, driver‘s licence, insurance and tinted permit for those who use cars with tinted windscreen.


While admitting that CRW was not meant for private vehicles, the police image maker said he was not aware of any extortion by policemen over the issue. He advised any motorist who claims to have been extorted to report the erring officers to police authorities, particularly because the uniforms of policemen on duty carry name tags.

2010 thread?
I give up

GOODMAN1: Road worthiness is required for vehicles above 5 years. One wonders though if the roads are actually vehicle-worthy.

Exactly !!!

VIO tOo can be a pain in the neck. My sister once drove my car and she was stopped by them. They asked her to produce the documents of the vehicle. She couldn't produce them @ that point and so they seized one of the new plate numbers.
That good part for me was that it was the old plate number they seized. Bad part for me was that I was yet to renew my car document. So instead of paying that 45k fine, I rather purchased a new plate number.

With all these officials on the road, (don't 4get LASTMA) driving is not so pleasant.