- Agency vows to prosecute erring offenders
The Lagos State Taskforce has reiterated its stand on the zero tolerance to vices that have negative and harmful effects to the environment and also actions carried out by recalcitrant law breakers whose actions have reverberating effects on all and sundry in Lagos State.
The Taskforce Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who dropped this hint yesterday, in his Oshodi office, where he briefed his officers and men on the need for them to expand their horizons and increase their output by carrying out the laid down assignment of responsibilities as enshrined in chapter E6 Schedule Section 4(I) of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law.
He highlighted some of the vices such as displaying of wares by the road side, selling on kerbs, illegal blocking of streets to carry out the social activities, flagrant pollution of the environment, indiscriminate parking of vehicles on roads, usage of unapproved bus and Okada bus stop, street trading, illegal collection of fees on the highways and constituting of nuisance by serial offenders.
He said though many of these offences have almost become norm, the agency is poised to restore sanity, no matter how long it takes.
He urged his officers and men to carry out an all round operations in areas like Iyana-Ipaja,Oshodi, Ikeja Along, Yaba etc. where Lagosians are made to face unnecessary traffic jam and hardship caused by traders who display their wares on the road meant for easy passage of vehicles.
“It has become worrisome having to spend long manhours in traffic caused by unauthorized display of wares by traders on our roads thereby creating an artificial bottleneck. We have to put a stop to that by ensuring that activities involving buying and selling are taken off the roads and into the markets designed for such” Jejeloye stated.
He said there has been instances where street traders carry out trading activities during the day and when it gets dark they pull out dangerous weapons like knives and sharp objects to rob motorists held up in traffic. If we can ensure that this issue is taken care of at the roots, it will drastically reduce the cases of traffic robbery being reported daily. We have received series complaints from motorists and we will make sure this heinous acts become a thing of the past” Jejeloye said.
CSP Jejeloye assured Lagosians that the Agency will not rest on its oars in ensuring that sanity is maintained in all parts of the State as he and his officals are working round the clock to make sure that offenders are brought to book.
“We are going to make series of arrests in the coming week and they will all be made to face mobile court immediately for prosecution. This will serve as a deterrent to others to desist from carrying out activities that are detrimental to others. The Roads, inner streets and Highways belong to us all and it is in our best interest to make sure we safe guard and preserve them for our use” he concluded.
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