The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), on Thursday, hosted the executive members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (Lagos Branch), led by its Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya Mc Oluomo, on a courtesy visit to the Agency.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, implored the NURTW leaders to educate their members on the need to comply with the State traffic regulations.
He stressed that the operatives would no longer tolerate the excesses of some commercial bus drivers who are in the habit of causing traffic gridlock by loading and off-loading passengers at undesignated bus stops across the State.
He said: “We must all work together to checkmate the recalcitrance of some of your members, causing unnecessary obstructions to traffic on Lagos roads, as well as those driving on BRT corridors and plying the one-way road in flagrant disobedience to the Lagos Traffic Law”.
The Chairman condemned the recent incident where a commercial bus driver killed an innocent member of the public due to recklessness, adding that the State Government would not condone the killing of road users by commercial bus drivers trying to evade arrest by law enforcement officers after contravening traffic rules and regulations.
He also urged the delegation to support the government in screening out the criminally-minded drivers, especially those who use their commercial vehicles to rob innocent members of the public, an act which is popularly referred to as ‘One- Chance’.
CSP Jejeloye also acceded to the request by the leader of the delegation and Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (Lagos Branch), Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya (a.k.a MC Oluomo) for collaboration on the enforcement of the State Traffic Law, saying that all hands must be on deck to restore sanity on Lagos roads.
While imploring the team to compel their members to always make use of garages provided by the government and desist from using illegal bus-stops, roadsides and drainage alignments as loading points across the State, CSP Jejeloye said the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has directed that any arrested traffic offenders should be charged to court and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Responding, the NURTW Chairman promised cooperation with the government saying, “Our union members are ready to work with your Agency in the area of ensuring strict compliance with the State Traffic Laws across the State.”