The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Monday impounded 40 illegally parked trucks, tankers, and trailers under flyovers in the Costain/Iganmu axis.
The exercise came, following the expiration of a seven-day removal notice served on owners of illegally parked trucks, tankers, and trailers under flyovers in the Costain/Iganmu axis, after which 40 of such vehicles were impounded and the owners assured of prosecution.
The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, disclosed this in Lagos in a statement through the Director, Public Affairs Unit, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, on Monday.
Oreagba disclosed that the enforcement operation was led by the Director of Operations (Headquarters), Mr. Peter Gbedemeje.
According to the LASTMA boss, the level of voluntary compliance before the enforcement was encouraging, adding that the majority had removed their heavy-duty vehicles before the commencement of the exercise.
He was glad about the level of voluntary compliance by owners/drivers of the illegally parked trucks including other illegal workshops such as Iron benders, mechanics, and food/fruit vendors.
He explained that the 40 impounded trailers were parked around Ijora, Costain, Breweries and Ajegunle Park by the Ijora Mobil Road area of Iganmu, Lagos.
Speaking, the Head of Operations, Gbedemeje, said that the authority would continue with the cleanup exercise.
He hinted that the exercise would be extended to other parts of the state in order to checkmate criminal activities.
The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on September 12th ordered the removal of all abandoned vehicles parked indiscriminately under bridges across the state.
The Governor who spoke through his Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, made this known during an emergency meeting with stakeholders, held at Ikeja.
Giwa said that Gov. Sanwo-Olu had declared zero tolerance for environmental abuse, illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defacing of the environment when he signed the ‘Executive Order’ on traffic and sanitation.
”I can assure you that government will enforce this notice after the expiration of the seven days ultimatum beginning from today (Monday),” he had said.
Giwa appealed to owners of abandoned vehicles to comply, as the ‘Removal Notice’ became necessary due to security issues and attendant gridlock in identified areas.
He listed such Costain, Apapa, Ajah, and Lekki, among such areas.
In his address, Oreagba, General Manager, LASTMA, had served to Go seven-day removal and compliance notice to owners of trucks and other vehicles parked under Costain Bridge area.
He urged them to comply or risk having their vehicles impounded; and prosecuted.
Oreagba said that the state government was committed to reducing the traffic problems around the axis, hence, it had become important to remove bottlenecks to achieving that.
