The Lagos State Taskforce is stepping up efforts to address the problem of street trading and other vices having negative and harmful effects on the environs.
According to the agency’s Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, he is deploying his officers and men to carry out an all round operations in areas like Iyana-Ipaja, Oshodi, Ikeja Along, Yaba etc where Lagosians are made to face unnecessary traffic jam and hardship caused by traders who display their wares on roads meant for easy passage of vehicles along those routes.
The operation would be directed at acts of displaying wares by the road side, selling on kerb, illegal blocking of streets to carry out the social activities, flagrant pollution of the environment, indiscriminate parking of vehicles on roads, usage of unapproved bus and Okada bus stop, street trading, illegal collection of fees on the highways and constituting of nuisance by serial offenders within the State.
The operations stem from the need for officers and men to expand their horizons and increase their output by carrying out the laid down assignment of responsibilities as enshrined in chapter E6 Schedule Section 4(I) of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law of the State.
Speaking in his office at Oshodi, on Sunday, CSP Jejeloye said, “It has become worrisome having to spend man hours in traffic caused by unauthorised display of wares by traders on our roads thereby creating an artificial bottleneck. We have to put a stop to that by ensuring that activities involving buying and selling are taken off the roads and into the marketing complex designed for such.”
The agency’s boss highlighted that street trading gives room for traffic robbery in some parts of the State, hence, the Chairman stressed the need for its officials to ensure that the practice is brought down to barest minimum if not completely wipe out.
“There are many instances where some street traders carry out their activities during the day and when it gets dark they pull out dangerous weapons like knives and sharp objects to rob motorists held up in traffic. If we can ensure that this issue is taken care of at the roots, it will drastically reduce the cases of traffic robbery being reported daily. We have received series complaints from motorists and we will make sure this heinous acts become a thing of the past” Jejeloye noted.
He assured Lagosians that the Agency will not rest on its oars in ensuring that sanity is maintained in all parts of the State as he and his officials are working round the clock to make sure that offenders are brought to book.
“We are going to make series of arrests in the coming week and they will all be made to face mobile court immediately for prosecution. This will serve as a deterrent to others to desist from carrying out activities that are detrimental to others. The Roads, inner streets and Highways belong to us all and it is in our best interest to make sure we safe guard and preserve them for our use” he said.
