….dislodges street traders on the road, walkways at Oshodi
The Lagos State Taskforce led by CSP Adetayo Akerele have carried on with their mandate of restoring sanity and decorum on Lagos roads through the enforcement of compliance operations carried out at Oshodi, Ikeja and Iyana Ipaja where recalcitrant commercial bus operators had been disrupting the free flow traffic and causing discomfort to Lagosians along those routes.
The simultaneous operations which began in the early hours of today recorded seizures of vehicles numbering 45 along the Highways were the operators obstructed traffic and created illegal bus stops and garages for dropping and picking up passengers.
Akerele who disclosed that he had carried out similar operations in these areas but was amazed to find the minibus operators (korope) still committing the same offense their colleagues were apprehended for just last week.
“You would think these set of danfo drivers would have learnt from the seizure of vehicles belonging to their colleagues but that is not what we have observed. They will learn the hard way eventually.” Akerele stated.
The Chairman also sounded a warning to other commercial bus operators scattered across other parts of the State. He warned them to turn over a new leaf or have their vehicles impounded.
“There will be no sacred cows in this new dispensation. I don’t care if your commercial bus is branded or tagged with intimidating stickers to escape arrest from enforcers of laws, if you obstruct the Highway, your vehicle will be confiscated. Any selfish bus operator will not shortchange lagosians”.
In a related development, The Chairman of the Agency beemed his searchlight on street traders who have deliberately converted walkways and kerbs to mini markets along Oshodi Road, Suwebatu Street and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway contrary to the laid down environmental laws of the State. He confiscated some goods displayed along the road and reiterated his determination to sanitize the roads and Highways of any form of degradation and unapproved conversion to markets.
He warned those still in the practice of engaging in such activities in other parts of the State to pack their wares and vacate the roads, stating that it is not only harmful to the environment but also poses danger to the traders and commuters who are forced to walk on the Highway due to the impedements places on approved walkways in the State.
