Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu has directed the operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Agency (Taskforce) to commence arrests of violators of State environmental laws, especially those impeding the free flow of traffic across the State.
Taskforce chairman, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, said that the directive became imperative as a way of sanitising the environment and ensuring the free flow of traffic for all road users, stressing that the directive also empowered the agency to clear all illegal traders, abandoned vehicles, roadside mechanics, miscreants, commercial motorcycle operators and other activities constituting environmental nuisance across the State.
He noted that with many ongoing road rehabilitation projects across the state, there was an urgent need to create a free flow of traffic for motorists by clearing all.
The chairman, therefore, implored all illegal traders, roadside mechanics, Iron benders and owners of abandoned vehicles particularly those ones around Police Stations to vacate immediately as anyone caught during the enforcement would be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.
“The directive is to be jointly carried out with Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, adding that areas to be covered during the enforcement operations include Igando, Ikorodu, Ajah, Mile 2, Obalende, Oyingbo, Dopemu, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Ojota, Idimu, Yaba, Ikate-Elegushi, Apple Junction (Festac), Bogije area and Mushin”
He commended the new Commissioner of Police on his directive to all Divisional Police Officers to support the Agency’s clampdown on illegal commercial motorcycle operators, especially those plying restricted routes including highways and bridges across the State.
Egbeyemi, however, enjoined members of the public to support the Agency by providing useful security information about criminal activities around them to security agencies through the Lagos State free Emergency Toll Lines 112 & 767.
Meanwhile, in total compliance with CP directive, the enforcement team of the Agency over the weekend cleared the entire Ikeja GRA, Mopol 20 Barracks, and surroundings of the Lagos Police Command of illegal traders, Vulganizers, illegal beer palour, block moulders, Okada riders, abandoned/accident vehicles, and illegal tricycle operators.