Driving Change: The role of computerised vehicle inspection in road safety

Ten years ago, the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service made its debut on the national scene with a simple mandate- to ensure vehicles plying the roads have met the minimum standards of safety. From its humble beginnings in Abuja, the service has now expanded to over 28 states across the country, each at different stages of operation.

Over this period, it’s safe to say that a new vehicle maintenance culture has begun to take root in Nigeria’s automobile sector.

Two years ago, I lost my father due to complications from an accident he had ten years earlier. Like many accidents, it was entirely avoidable. A faulty brake system on a bike sent him crashing into the sidewalk while he was taking a leisurely stroll around his home. Four days later, he woke up from a coma, and six weeks after that, he had to undergo brain surgery for a subdural haematoma. The accident left him incapacitated for years, robbing him of the vitality that once defined him.

Many would say he was lucky—some never get a second chance. According to a report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for Q1 2023 show that 1,349 people were killed in road accidents, with 7,744 others injured in crashes involving 3,965 vehicles. Many of these people suffered life-altering injuries or were completely immobilized.

When the opportunity to be part of the Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service (LACVIS) came to me, I knew I wanted to contribute to the advocacy for safer roads through roadworthy vehicles that meet the state’s safety certification standards.

Most accidents are caused by vehicle owners neglecting defects that compromise the safety of their vehicles on the roads. In pursuance of its road worthiness certificate issuance mandate, The Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, as part of RWC document renewal,  has issued corresponding referral notes to vehicles owners to present their vehicles  for comprehensive inspection at any of the 35 LACVIS centres across Lagos.

LACVIS was set up by the Lagos State Government to assess the roadworthiness status of vehicles. Inspections at LACVIS include, but are not limited to, brake efficiency tests, emission tests, checks of lighting systems, suspension and alignment, as well as thorough visual and underneath inspections. These protocols are designed to detect over 200 potential defects. In one instance, a “danfo” commuter bus was found to have over 60 defects, each capable of causing an accident.

Since its inception, LACVIS has tested all categories of vehicles—from saloons and SUVs to trucks, tankers, and trailers—following its mandate to ensure our roads are safe, and both drivers and other road users can trust that the state government is working to improve their lives.

However, there’s still much more to be done. All stakeholders must work together with a renewed sense of urgency to create safer roads for everyone. LACVIS does not work in isolation; it has become a trusted partner for numerous road safety advocacy groups, organisations, and institutions. It has contributed to various initiatives, from exhibitions and symposiums to media campaigns, strengthening industry regulations, and playing a key role in educating the public on vehicle safety.

As Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is the beginning. Staying together is progress. Working together is success.” It has been a humbling journey, pioneering the use of technology in vehicle inspection—moving from subjective assessments to objective testing.

The ripple effects are evident: an improved vehicle maintenance culture, strengthened resale values for Nigerian used cars, data-driven conversations on emissions, and strategic partnerships with industry experts to shape the future. And this is just the beginning of what’s to come.
Abike Akintuyi Awojobi is the Corporate Communication Manager at LACVIS