The Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye, has again warned traders and commercial motorists along Oshodi road to desist from displaying their wares on the walkways and parking indiscriminately on the road which he said causes congestion and impedes free flow of traffic along the axis.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director, Press and Public Affairs, Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.

Jejeloye said the traders have no reason to violate traffic and environmental laws with the display of their goods on the roads and walkways after adequate provisions of marketplace, shopping plaza, and Nigerian Army Shopping Arena had been made by the government.

“We carried out an enforcement exercise on the 9th of March early this year where some goods were seized from the traders, vehicles impounded from some commercial bus drivers, but we had compassion on the traders and some drivers, who had gotten some of the goods through soft loans with the promise that they would not return to the roadside again.

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“Unfortunately, we can see that they are fully back on the road, but this time, anyone who is caught displaying goods by the roadside will be arrested and prosecuted by the agency” he stated.

The Taskforce Chairman stated that the agency will not be taken for a ride by traders who see it as next-door neighbours, saying the full wrath of the law will be meted out on anyone whose selfish actions cause pain and discomfort to Lagosians.

“Displaying of goods by the roadside is selfish and goes against the plans and design of a 21st-century megacity status in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of the state government,” he added.

Jejeloye, however, appealed to the market leaders and parks/garages managers to relay the message in detail to all traders and drivers who are in the habit of engaging in such practices, stating that ignorance will not be an excuse this time.

He urged them to make use of the marketplaces, parks and garages, and building plaza provided by the Lagos State Government which he said is more safe and convenient to carry out their businesses.

The Taskforce chairman called on other agencies such as the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps who have also been carrying out raids of roadside traders to partner with the Lagos State Taskforce in ensuring that orderliness and sanity are achieved and maintained on the roads.

“Once achieved, Lagosians would have shorter travel time as a result of free human and vehicular movement along these corridors,” Jejeloye said.

The Star