Lagos State Government has ordered all licensed e-hailing drivers from Uber, Bolt, Lagride, and InDrive to bring their vehicles for a mandatory roadworthiness inspection.
The announcement came from Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, who made the disclosure on his official X (formerly Twitter) account after meeting with e-hailing operators at the Ministry of Transportation in Alausa, Ikeja. The Ministry has raised concerns about the poor condition of several vehicles used by drivers on these platforms, prompting the new inspection drive.
Osiyemi stated that any vehicle failing the inspection will be prohibited from operating within Lagos. Only vehicles registered with the Lagos State Government and driven by drivers certified by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) will be allowed on the roads. He also warned that operators who do not comply with the audit risk sanctions, including possible suspension of their licences.
The government’s move addresses growing worries over safety risks and the decline in service standards, worsened by many vehicles looking old and poorly maintained. Rising costs and limited financing options have made vehicle upgrades difficult for many drivers.
Representatives from major e-hailing companies like Uber, Bolt, Lagride, InDrive, and others were involved in the stakeholder meeting. They shared their efforts to enhance safety, such as adding panic buttons, better driver verification, and strict onboarding processes.
Mr. Osiyemi urged Lagos residents to book rides only through official platforms to benefit from traceable trips and in-app safety features, rather than informal offline bookings.
This inspection drive is a crucial step toward safer and more reliable urban transportation in Lagos, with authorities pushing to raise the standards and protect both passengers and drivers in the fast-growing ride-hailing industry.
