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The Lagos State Task Force has vowed to crack down on commercial bus drivers who park illegally on Lagos metropolitan roads.
Chairman of the agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, declared resolve to clean the roads of Lagos and warned illegal parkers to desist from the practice.
Akele issued the warning on Friday during an enforcement exercise he led on Adeniji-Adele and neighbouring routes to eliminate traffic congestion and criminal activities caused by illegal operation of bus parks and bus stands on the axis.
Akerele said the “slow-moving” phenomenon (traffic jams) was “not a natural phenomenon”, adding that the activities of commercial motor vehicle operators along the route had been going on for too long and it was time to put an end to it.
The task force chairman said the conduct of commercial bus drivers (Danfo) was worrisome as their actions caused long traffic jams with devastating effects on motorists and Lagosians at large.
“Drivers should not have to spend longer on this route because of the actions of a few. Occupying one or two lanes to create illegal bus parking is totally unacceptable and we are here to let these operators know that. If you want to pick up passengers, go to the designated bus parking lots,” said the Director of Press and Public Affairs of the Lagos State Task Force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, in a statement to our correspondent Akerele on Friday.
The Chairman further disclosed that the enforcement operations will be continuous and more intense and will be carried out in various parts of the state.
He said his planned actions were people-centric and aimed at ensuring that Lagosians were not deprived of their right to proper use of public facilities.
In a related development, the Lagos State Task Force cleared Awolowo Road and Ipodo Street near under the Ikeja Bridge where traffic bottlenecks through illegal parking lots and garages were also discovered.
The operation cleared the highway and adjacent streets of all vehicles that were illegally parked and causing untold hardship.
Akerele, who said a total of 84 vehicles were seized in the two operations, assured residents and passengers in the area that the days of commercial bus drivers picking up and dropping off passengers at unapproved locations were numbered.
“Slow traffic is not a natural phenomenon nor is it created by God. It is caused by the actions of a few stubborn drivers. Peak hour congestion has resulted in traffic jams extending to the Third Mainland Bridge and Kodesoh Street, making these areas impassable,” he said.
Operators of kiosks and makeshift shops on the roadside and pavement of Adeniji Adele Street were not spared as officials of the agency cleared structures erected on the pavement.
Traders doing business on Ipodo Street were warned to move their goods out of the road or risk having them confiscated by the agency.
The agency said the operation was aimed at restoring sanity, while Akelele pledged to maintain the decorum and calm achieved during the week-long exercise.
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