Lagos Task Force Distances Itself From Driver's Inscription Permit Ordeal

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, widely recognized as the Lagos State Task Force, has issued a strong denial regarding allegations that its operatives intercepted a Toyota Tacoma driver over a vehicle's inscription or demanded a permit for the marking. This rebuttal was made public on Saturday, following the circulation of a video on Facebook by Jay Scotch Automobile Ltd, where the motorist detailed an alleged confrontation with officials who he claimed stopped him and requested a permit for the "TRD 4×4 Sport Tacoma" inscription on his car.

In the viral video, the driver narrated that the officials argued the inscription was a form of advertisement, thus requiring a permit. He stated, "So, I was driving this Toyota Tacoma with this TRD inscription, TRD 4×4 Sport Tacoma and Lagos Task Force had to stop me and say I should provide, you know, if there is an inscription in your car, you have to provide a permit." The motorist further claimed that threats were made to damage his side mirror if he failed to produce the permit. "They were like, I should provide a permit for this one. I used mouth finish them and they were threatening to spoil my side mirror if I don’t provide permit to be using this one," he recounted. He clarified that the inscription was factory-fitted and not an aftermarket addition for advertisement, explaining it came with the vehicle when it was purchased in the United States. "Something that came in like this from the abroad or from USA where it was bought from," he said, questioning the demand: "So, I don’t know. Why are you asking me for a permit because of this TRD written on this Tacoma?"

However, Mr. Raheem Gbadeyanka, the Director of Press and Public Affairs for the Lagos State Task Force, in response to an inquiry about the incident on Saturday, firmly stated that his agency was not responsible. Gbadeyanka explained that it is common for residents to mistakenly identify officers from other government agencies as Task Force operatives, particularly when they are dressed in camouflage uniforms. He elaborated, "Unless you understand the ignorance of some people, if care is not taken, an individual too will be ignorant of their ignorance. Many of them don’t really understand or know the difference between one agency of government or the other; once they are accosted by any policeman dressed in camouflage uniform on the street, they ignorantly believe they are Task Force operatives."

He further clarified that the Task Force ceased enforcing traffic-related offences following a directive from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. "Ever since the Commissioner of Police of Lagos discretionally stopped us from engaging in any traffic-related offences, the agency operatives had stopped effecting the arrest of traffic offenders," Gbadeyanka affirmed. He also stressed that demanding permits for vehicle inscriptions falls outside the agency's official mandate. "It is also not part of our mandates to request for permits for inscriptions on vehicles," he added. Gbadeyanka emphasized that under the strict leadership of its chairman, CSP Adebayo Akerele, Task Force operatives are prohibited from stopping vehicles for traffic violations. "The agency operatives dare not stop any vehicle for traffic offences under the watchful eyes of disciplinarian CSP Adebayo Akerele, chairman, Lagos State Task Force," he stated.

This incident also brings into focus Lagos State's regulations concerning branded vehicles. The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has previously confirmed that its Mobile Advert Permit is mandatory for branded vehicles operating within the state. PUNCH reported in November 2024 that this permit is issued to owners or users of branded vehicles, including cars, buses, pick-ups, and trucks, and is valid from January to December, subject to annual renewal. LASAA's current website also includes "Car, Truck & Bike branding" under its Mobile Branding Permit system. In 2023, LASAA announced the mobile advert permit's introduction to regulate branded vehicles, deploying enforcement teams across Lagos for compliance. Despite these regulations, the Task Force maintains that its operatives were not involved in the alleged incident and that requesting a permit for a vehicle inscription is not within its purview.