Access Bank Donates Office Building to Lagos’ Vehicle Inspection Service

Sunday Ehigiator

Access Bank Plc yesterday inaugurated a four-office building it donated to the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) Zonal Office located in the Ojodu area of Lagos State, following the destruction of the service’s old building during the 2020 #EndSARS protest

Speaking at the official inauguration and handover event held at the VIS Office, Ojodu, Lagos, the bank’s Executive Director, Iyabo Ojo-Okusanya, said the project was a part of the ‘Employee Volunteering Scheme’ of the bank.

According to her, “Outside our corporate social responsibility as an organisation, we also encourage our employees to be responsible in the communities that we are operating.

“Therefore, we encouraged them that they must contribute to society. So, this building you are seeing here today is not built by Access Bank, but by members of the Corporate operations group of Access Bank Plc, out of their private earnings, and it cost them millions of naira.

“It is a fully furnished project, and it would also be brought to a level that we expect public servants to be comfortable in. It is not all the time that private or individuals give due respect to public servants, and the work that they do is already difficult enough. Sometimes, we, the public, make it a lot more difficult.

“We hope that the donation of this building will support the process of making their lives a bit easier so they can serve the community they operate better.”

Appraising the project, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, expressed delight over the completion of the project.

According to him, “You may recall that sometime, in October 2020 an #EndSars protest erupted in our state and part of the resultant effect is the loss of over N3.9 billion investments and the destruction of this building as a result of the arson that accompanied the protest.

“It is, however, a joyful moment for us as a government to witness the birth of this building as part of the recovery process. As a worthy partner, Access Bank Plc took this project very closely to heart and delivered this state-of-the-heart facility to the state government.

“On behalf of the state government and the good people of the state, I’d like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Access Bank plc for their benevolence and unwavering commitment to the present administration THEME agenda and our institutions.

“The commitment and dedication exhibited by Access Bank Plc towards rebuilding the VIS annexe office complex as part of its employee volunteering scheme are exemplary for the essence of corporate social responsibility.

“Hence, this partnership has not only brought about the restoration of a crucial government asset but has also rekindled the hope in the hearts of Lagosians. It is common knowledge that the VIS is saddled with the primary responsibility to ensure road safety on our roads, especially as it concerns safer vehicles and safer road users.

“Hence, the facility will further enhance the productivity and efficiency of the directorate, and the state government will put it into judicious use by taking full ownership by providing it with the necessary maintenance and protection it deserves.”

She added: “Beyond the bricks and metal, Access Bank Plc’s partnership with the Lagos State government is a shining example of how the government and corporate entities can synergise to holistically address societal challenges and please a positive impact.

“It underscores the notion that we create enduring positive changes when we work together. We appreciate Access Bank Plc once again for this laudable project.”

Also speaking, Director, VIS Lagos State, Engr. Akin-George Fashola, noted that since the building was destroyed during the #EndSARS protest, the zonal office has been having a difficult time executing its mandate.

“Currently, we are sharing with other facilities to engage the public in carrying out our mandate. Access Bank came to us and opted to reconstruct this building for us so that the efficiency of the VIS, especially the Ojodu Zonal office, can be more effective.

“They have rebuilt this office to a state where any officer will be proud to inhabit this building. They have improved this facility, they have enlarged the offices, and they have made conveniences better for daily use. We are very appreciative of their efforts towards the VIS.

“Going forward, the public should expect more efficiency, effectiveness, and conducive office for vehicle owners and the public at large to come to transact their vehicular registration as it may be.

“So you can expect a faster processing time because of the space, equipment, and facility that we now have. The responsiveness of the officers themselves will give credence to better performance overall.”