He was reacting, on Thursday, to complaints of delay made by some motorists who had taken their vehicles to the centre for Roadworthiness Certificate examination.
The motorists had made the complaints in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Some of them also accused officials of the centre of sharp practices, claiming they receive bribes to accelerate service and disregard those on queue.
A 62-year-old retired civil servant, Mr Godwin Obi, had described the process as “a punishment and stressful”.
Obi said he was given a date of Aug. 16, for physical examination of his vehicle, and though he got there as early as 6.00a.m., he did not succeed in doing it.
He said he had to go to the centre for days, describing his experience as “frustrating”.
Obi claimed that some people without uniforms sometimes came around negotiating for money to cut corners, which he could not afford.
Another motorist, Hajia Fatima Lawal, a trader, said she had to come for several days to the centre for the examination, describing the process as stressful.
She said that the long wait she experienced was not encouraging, pleading with the management of the Vehicle Inspection Centre to review their operations at Cele.
A teacher, Mr Tunde Kolawale, had also complained that the process of the car examination was slow.
A London-based Nigerian, Mr Moses Odusanya, however, commended the operation of the VIS and the examination centre, saying that the service met with international standard.
A retired nurse, who came with two vehicles and sought anonymity, said she was able to do the examination of her cars in less than two hours at Oshodi/Isolo centre.
Talabi, while explaining reasons for delay experienced by some motorists, also said that there was no form of extortion perpetrated at the centre.
Talabi said that officers of VIS were aware that extortion was a punishable offence which could lead to dismissal from the service, restating that examination was free for all motorists.
“On the issue of traffic, sometimes motorists will be given a referral without them checking what has been given to them.
“Some drivers are supposed to be in Lagos Island zone or other zones, maybe they are having an engagement at Cele, so they will decide to come to Oshodi/Isolo zone situated at Cele.
“Some drivers will not come at the particular time allotted to them; for example, someone may be given 2.00p:m, and would have arrived at N7.00a:m, blocking the way of those that are supposed to be examined before them.
“From checking their referral notes, we enlighten them and direct them to the appropriate zone for examination,” Talabi said.
He said that those unscheduled sometimes caused traffic, adding that they usually pulled such people out of the queue for drivers scheduled for the zone to be examined.
Talabi said some drivers failed to appear on the referral date and chose to come on rescheduled dates, which also added to the backlog.
He said that the zone examined a minimum of 400 vehicles on weekly bases, unless there was a mechanical fault, which was often resolved in no time.
Talabi said that the premises where the centre was located was owned by Mushin Local Government, and over five regulatory agencies were there.
He said that the agencies include Motor Vehicle Administrative Agency, Federal Road Safety Commission and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.
The official said the abandoned vehicles in the premises had nothing to do with VIS.
He said they met the vehicles in the premises when they arrived to manage part of the premises.
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The News Agency of Nigeria correspondent who visited other centres at Alaka, Surulere and Ojodu reports that some motorists applauded the examination process.
Some of them said that they were able to do their examination on the same day that they were given.
The Director, Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service, Mr Akin Fashola, had said in an earlier interview with NAN that any motorist finding it difficult to be examined at a particular centre should go to another nearby centre.
Fashola said that the service had simplified the examination process, adding that it was left for car owners to decide the particular centre they want.
He advised motorists resident in Lagos to stop obtaining road worthiness certificates in another state, but the state where they reside.
Fashola said that whenever the particular motorist who carried out examination outside the state passed through the cameras, such cars would get fines.
He urged motorists to endeavour to do their road worthiness certificates, as the service attends to some 100 motorists on a daily basis, depending on the capacity of the centre.
(NAN)
