By Chidinma Ajemba
The Anambra State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), under the Ministry of Transport, has reminded commercial vehicle owners and operators of the legal requirement to obtain a valid Hackney Permit before engaging in the transportation of passengers or goods for commercial purposes.
The Head of Drivers Licensing and Training, Vehicle Inspection Service Department, Engr. Offozor Aburi Francis, gave the reminder while highlighting the importance of the permit in promoting road safety and ensuring compliance with transport regulations across the state.
According to Engr. Aburi, a Hackney Permit is the statutory document that authorises a vehicle to operate commercially by conveying passengers or goods for financial gain.
He explained that any vehicle designed to carry seven passengers or more, or goods of equivalent capacity, must obtain the permit before commencing commercial operations. The requirement, he noted, applies to commercial buses, shuttle buses, pickup vans, trucks, haulage vehicles and other four-wheeled commercial vehicles. However, motorcycles and tricycles operating within Anambra State are currently exempt from the regulation.
He described the Hackney Permit as one of the essential documents that distinguishes a commercial vehicle from a private one, stressing that every commercial vehicle owner is legally required to possess it.
Engr. Aburi further stated that commercial vehicles must display commercial (red) number plates, warning that the use of private (blue) or official (green) number plates for commercial activities constitutes a traffic offence punishable under the law. He advised vehicle owners to obtain genuine Hackney Permits and other statutory vehicle documents from any Motor Licensing Office of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), located across the state’s 21 local government areas.
According to him, government officials are available at the licensing offices from monday to friday to assist motorists, while vehicle owners should ensure they collect only authentic documents issued by the appropriate government authorities after payment.
The VIS official disclosed that a hackney permit is valid for one year and is issued to a specific vehicle. He added that once a vehicle is registered for commercial use, its mandatory roadworthiness inspection changes from an annual schedule to once every six months due to the increased demands of commercial operations.
He explained that the more frequent inspections are necessary because commercial vehicles spend longer hours on the road and transport more passengers, making regular safety checks essential for the protection of commuters and other road users.
Engr. Aburi warned that operating a commercial vehicle without a valid Hackney Permit is a traffic offence that may attract sanctions, including fines and the impoundment of the vehicle. He urged commercial vehicle owners and operators to comply fully with all vehicle documentation requirements, noting that proper documentation not only ensures compliance with the law but also contributes to safer roads and a more efficient transport system across Anambra State.
Chidinma Ajemba is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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