Lagos CBD reads riot act to miscreants terrorizing business owners

The Lagos Central Business Districts (CBD) has again warned miscreants and commercial motorcycle operators operating illegally within the CBD to desist or be prosecuted.

Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Central Business Districts, Mr Gbenga Oyerinde gave the warning on Wednesday in his office following the increasing reports of the activities of miscreants.

The miscreants according to him are terrorizing business owners, shoppers and visitors. They are also aiding okada and tricycles, commercial motorcycles operating illegally on restricted routes within the Ikeja and Lagos Island business districts.

He noted that as the yuletide season approaches, business districts usually witness a large influx of shoppers into the districts and miscreants and hoodlums take advantage of the opportunity to commit all sorts of criminalities.

Oyerinde assured that the present administration is poised to making life easy for both residents, shoppers and traders within the Ikeja and Lagos Island business districts and therefore will not tolerate illegal activities of miscreants parading as “omonile” in any part of the business districts in the state.

He called on leaders of Youth associations and Community Development Association (CDA) within the Ikeja and Lagos Island Business District to caution their relatives as anyone arrested will be prosecuted accordingly.

He disclosed that nobody or group of individuals will be allowed to derail the developmental agenda for CBD as enshrined In 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.

While condemning the recalcitrant attitude of Okada operators who flout with impunity the stipulated traffic laws of the State guiding their operations, Oyerinde noted that the ban on Okada and tricycle operations in some roads within the Lagos Island CBD is still in force and CBD operatives will enforce it to them later. He listed the roads to includes all roads within the Inner and Outer Marina, Broad Street, Nnamdi Azikwe Street, Martins Street, Balogun Street, Davies Street, amongst others.

Oyerinde noted that okada and tricycles are not part of the Lagos transport system, and therefore Lagos State government would continue to clamp down on Okada and tricycles operating on restricted routes, especially in the Central Business Districts.

A statement signed by Olaoye Olusegun, Assistant Director, Public Affairs CBD noted that commercial bus drivers, okada operators especially those on haulage business, dispatch riders and tricycle operators operating within the Lagos Island business district are being warned to obey traffic rules and regulations in accordance with Section 3 of the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012.

Oyerinde said, “It is very disheartening and disturbing that despite the activities of CBD operatives to ensure traffic situations within the island business district improves, it has been worsening by the activities of Okada operators, commercial bus drivers, cab operators as well as private car owners aided by miscreants and hoodlums to park indiscriminately within the business district.”

“Henceforth, we cannot continue to condole this lawlessness by these miscreants parading as “omonile”, we have given security agencies including our enforcement officers the marching orders to fish out these miscreants and strictly enforce the traffic law banning commercial okada and tricycles operations within the CBD. No breakdown of law and order would be allowed within the Central Business District.”

The Special Adviser who also decried the nuisance of street trading and display of wares on walkways and roads called on market leaders and owners of shops and plazas whose shops have been extended to the roads to remove them immediately or face the full wrath of the environmental and physical planning laws of Lagos State.

He said, “State Government has expended enormous resources and wherewithal on beautification, painting, rebranding, reconstruction and general uplifting of Lagos Island CBD axis to ensure that serene and conducive environment is in place for businesses to thrive. But street trading and closure of major roads within the business district by traders have made nonsense of the huge resources spent by the State Government.”

While calling for 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, the Special Adviser noted that the Executive orders it is going to be enforced to the later. Likewise, street trading and the erection of illegal shanties within the business district will no longer be tolerated.

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