LAGOS State Taskforce has frowned at unauthorised display of wares on Lagos roads saying environmental nuisance must stop as offenders will be arrested and prosecuted at a mobile court.
The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye while briefing his officers and men in his office at Bolade/Oshodi said street trading gives room for traffic robbery in some parts of the State but he will ensure that the practice is brought down to the barest minimum if not completely wiped out.
He tasked them on the need to expand their horizons 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 of the State.
The Chairman highlighted other vices on Lagos roads such as selling on kerb, 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 busstops, street trading, illegal collection of fees on the highways and constituting of nuisance by serial offenders within the State which have almost become a norm in the state.
He urged his officers and men to carry out an all round operations in areas like Iyana-Ipaja, Oshodi, Ikeja Along and Yaba to mention but a few. 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 along that routes.
“It has become worrisome having to spend man hours 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 marketing complex designed for such” said the Chairman.
“There are many instances where some street traders carry out their 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 of complaints from motorists and we will make sure this heinous acts become a thing of the past” he said.
“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.
He 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.
