By Lanre Adessanya
The Lagos State Government has again read the riot act to commercial bus and cab operators as well as traders trading on the roads and street within the Lagos Island Business Districts to desist or have their vehicles impounded and owners prosecuted.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Business Districts, Prince Olarenwaju Elegushi gave the warning in his office while strategizing with the management staff and enforcement officers on the way forward for the agency. He disclosed that the Lagos State Government has vowed to bring traffic and environmental sanity to all nooks and crannies of the State by checking the illegal activities of commercial bus and cabs operators, private car owners and street traders. He said no amount of resistance and intimidation by miscreants who are in the habit of allotting parking spaces to motorists can make the State Government go back on its resolve to clean up the entire business district.
He said further “Lagos State Government has observed with dismay the gross abuse of traffic, environment laws and urban planning by commercial bus and cab operators, mechanics and street traders on the Island. The traffic and environmental abuse thriving in these illegal garages and motor parks with it adverse effect on traffic flow within the business district can no longer be tolerated.
He decried the nuisance constituted by the activities of mechanics and road side automobile engineers especially those operating indiscriminately under the bridges, open spaces, walkways and roads which are not in line with the policy direction of this present administration.
The Special Adviser said further “ the present government seek total compliance to traffic and environmental laws in line with the Executive Order issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on zero tolerance for traffic and environmental nuisances as well as indiscriminate dumping of refuse across the metropolis of Lagos, henceforth it is going to be zero tolerance on illegal parking on walkways, bridges, roadside. Likewise street trading and erection of illegal shanties within the business district will no longer be tolerated’’.
He reiterated the determination of the present administration led by His Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to restore the original plan of Marina and its adjourning axis by checking the activities of street traders, mechanics, motorists who have converted spaces under the bridges, walkways and roads to their garages.
The Special Adviser also said that the present administration is poised to making life easy for both residents, shoppers and traders within the business district with the planned provision of health points at strategic locations across the business district to administer first aid treatment and also the establishment of CBD clinic as first respondent to emergency cases.
He said further “Periodically we plan to engage the youths and school children within the business district to interact and share ideas which will foster friendliness and spirit of oneness among them. While these plans are ongoing, expansion to other areas In the state will be in the front burner”.
He disclosed that the developmental agenda for CBD under his leadership will be In line with the ‘’THEME’’ policy thrust of the state government which focuses on Traffic and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21 century economic, Entertainment and Tourism, Security and Good governance.
