By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its ban on the permanent or everyday use of dealer number plates by motorists and vehicle dealers, warning of enforcement action against defaulters.
The spokeswoman for the Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, 16 August, 2026, cautioning motorists and vehicle dealers against using dealer number plates for purposes outside those permitted by law.
She explained that the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, restricts dealer plates to specific, time-limited activities, including authorised test drives, vehicle inspections, vehicle delivery or collection, and the movement of unregistered vehicles.
Ogunlola stated that such movement must be directly from ports or authorised dealer premises to designated locations, stressing that their use for private daily commuting, continuous operation on public roads, or on vehicles already sold, is prohibited.
She disclosed that the Vehicle Inspection Service had apprehended 175 vehicles for violating the regulations, explaining that plates recovered from the affected vehicles would be confiscated while the vehicles undergo further investigation.
She warned that vehicles operating with unauthorised, fake, obscured or improperly used registration numbers would face enforcement action, including impoundment and prosecution under relevant traffic laws.
Ogunlola urged vehicle dealers and motorists to comply fully with the regulations, noting that the measure was designed to promote accountability, accurate vehicle identification and safety on Lagos roads.
