Razaq Bamidele
As at the last count, no fewer than 8, 642 vehicles and 18, 537 commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada were impounded by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force in the year 2022 for various traffic offences.
A total of 17,980 out if the motorbikes impounded were crushed in Alausa after court proceedings to serve as a deterrent to other intending operators.
Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, made the disclosure while reviewing the operational activities of the Agency in year 2022.
According to a statement signed by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, Director, Press & Public Affairs, Jejeloye highlighted and analysed the situation with a bid to identify areas where improvements could be made and also identify new frontiers that would help facilitate the growth and development of the Metropolis.
“In the year under review, we impounded 8,642 vehicles for various traffic offenses ranging from driving on one-way, obstructing the free flow of traffic, driving on the reserved BRT corridor and parking to pick or drop off passengers at unapproved bus stops in Lagos”
Following the modus operandi of the Agency, they were all charged to court accordingly the release disclosed.
According to Jejeloye, the year under review witnessed the ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) and six Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) within the State, leading to confiscation and seizure of 18,537 motorcycles for operating despite the ban.
So, after court proceedings, 17,980 bikes were crushed in Alausa to serve as a deterrent to other intending okada operators.
“It was quite a herculean task enforcing the ban on the operations of okada in Lagos but we were up to the task. We carried out sting operations on various Highways and othet restricted routes to ensure that their activities were truncated. A total of 156 riders and 122 passengers were made to face the mobile court for patronizing the unwanted okada operators”. Jejeloye stated.
The Chairman also highlighted some of the lofty feats attained by the Agency in Year 2022, which are the raid of criminal hideouts, arrest of one-chance syndicates, demolition of shanties posing environmental hazards to Lagosians and bring the activities of land grabbers in the State to zero.
He further revealed that the Lagos State Taskforce made series of arrest of unscrupulous individuals who specialise in vandalizing both public and private owned properties and they were all made to face the full wrath of the law.
“These are part of the gains achieved as a result of the synergy between agencies of the State Government through providing security backup for them when they encounter hinderance in the process of carrying out their legitimate duties”
Environmental infractions were not left out by the Chairman who vowed that there would be more raids and activities in areas like illegal mechanic villages and car parks where environmental pollution is predominant.
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Jejeloye assured Lagosians that the Agency would not rest on its oars until the goals of attaining a mega city status as enshrined in the THEMES agenda of the State Government is completely achieved.
He therefore appealed to the people of Lagos to resist the urge to commit crime and report anything suspicious to the Agency through the phone numbers provided or through the social media handles.
Motorists are thereby urged to obey traffic laws and desist from engaging in acts that could jeopardise the free flow of traffic within the metropolis.
“An orderly, serene and healthy environment gives birth to a progressive society”.
He wished each an everyone a joyous 2023 filled with warmth and togetherness.
