Lagos leads as traffic offenders pay N2.1bn fine

No fewer than 12 state governments received the sum of N2.1bn as fines imposed on offenders for violating traffic rules in nine months.

The figures were obtained from an analysis of their third quarter budget performance reports sourced from Open Nigerian States, a budgIT-backed website that serves as a repository of government budget data. The states also got N865m in Q3.

The results also showed that there were no offenders in 24 states including Zamfara, Yobe, Taraba, Sokoto, Rivers, Ondo, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Imo, Jigawa, Gombe, Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Borno, Benue, Ekiti and Bauchi

The analysis further showed that Lagos State, the Center for Excellence, recorded the highest number of traffic offenders as the state received N1.9bn during the period under review.

It was followed by Osun (N32.4m), Oyo (27.4m), Ogun (20.5m), Plateau(N14.6m), Delta (N9.1m), Niger(7.9m), Cross-Rivers(N3.6m), Enugu(N2.7m), Kogi(N1.8m) and Adamawa(N.987m)

Ebonyi state got the lowest fine with N7,000.

In Lagos state, A fine of N20,000 is imposed on first-time offenders who are caught driving without a valid driver’s licence. Subsequently, the offence carries an N20,000 fine or an extra vehicle impoundment penalty.

Smoking, drinking, and eating while driving attract N20,000 for a first-time offender, while subsequent offender attracts N30,000 plus an additional penalty of vehicle impoundment for three months or six months imprisonment or community service.

Driving a vehicle by a person under the age of 18 years attracts a N20,000 fine in the first instance. Subsequently, the offence attracts N30,000 and an additional penalty of vehicle Impoundment.

This means that 96,461 persons were punished if all violators were first-time offenders.

Earlier this week, a recent study conducted by the Danne Institute for Research disclosed that Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria, is losing a staggering N4tn annually, attributed to profound traffic congestion.

The report identified behavioural factors as the primary culprits, including poor road infrastructure, violation of traffic laws, activities of agberos at bus stops, and buses picking up passengers.

It emphasised that the 21 million-strong population of Lagos is not translating into corresponding productivity due to the crippling impact of traffic jams on daily life.