Task Force to prosecute 10 arrested owners, drivers for driving against traffic

Lagos State Task Force said it has concluded arrangement to prosecute 10 arrested vehicles owners/drivers for driving against on-coming vehicles (one-way) over the weekend in the state.

Chairman of the agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who led the enforcement exercise, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday.

He disclosed that the erring owners/drivers were apprehended around Dopemu, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege and Mile 2 for driving against on-coming vehicles in contravention to scheduled (1) item 27 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012.

The Task Force lamented that it was disheartening seeing both commercial bus drivers and educated private car owners driving against traffic across the state, expressing worries that the sad development even occurred despite the high level of enlightenment campaigns by the state government.

According to him, the erring owners and drivers even do what do without fear of crushing innocent passersby or having an imminent collision with other on-coming vehicles.

CSP Egbeyemi, however, commended the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for declaring zero tolerance on all roads pot-holes, declaring that the move would considerably help in enhancing the free flow of traffic across the state after the rehabilitation exercise.

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This was just as he urged motorists, particularly commercial bus drivers to desist from driving against traffic and obey different traffic signs conspicuously displayed by traffic officers particularly around Dopemu, Agege, Pen-cinema, Apapa, Oshodi-Mile 2 expressway, Ikorodu Road and other parts of the state.

Speaking on the ‘Removal Order’ notice issued by the Lagos State government to all owners/occupiers of illegal shanties, kiosks and containerised shops along Okokomaiko to Badagry and Iba-LASU roads, Egbeyemi said the notice became necessary in preparation for the commencement of rehabilitation works by the state government along the corridor.

“The Governor was touched by the discomfort being experienced on daily basis as a result of these bad roads and has vowed to ameliorate the sufferings of residents and commuters plying the Okokomaiko to Badagry express-way by rehabilitating the road,” he said.

He said a general clean-up exercise of all these illegal shanties, kiosks and containerised shops within these areas would commence soon by the agency.

Egbeyemi, however, warned residents and illegal traders to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse on railway tracks, road-setbacks, median and walk-ways around Okokomaiko to Badagry, saying that anyone caught in this act would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Laws.