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 such illegally parked and abandoned vehicles.
The General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, disclosed these in a statement through the Director, Public Affairs Unit, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, in Lagos on Monday.
Oreagba said that the enforcement operation was led by the Director of Operations (Headquarters) Mr. Peter Gbedemeje,
He said that owners and drivers of the impounded vehicles would be charged to court accordingly.
The LASTMA boss said that the level of voluntary compliance before the enforcement was encouraging.
He said that majority had removed their heavy-duty vehicles before the commencement of the exercise.
“We are very happy with the level of voluntary compliance by owner/drivers of these illegally parked trucks including other illegal workshops such as Iron benders, mechanics, and food/ fruits vendors.
“These 40 impounded trailers were contravened around Ijora, Costain, Breweries, and Ajegunle Park by Ijora Mobil Road area of Iganmu, Lagos,” Oreagba said.
The Head of Operations, Gbedemeje, said that the authority would continue with the cleanup exercise.
Gbedemeje said that the exercise would be extended to other parts of the state in order to checkmate criminal activities.
Recall that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Sept. 12 ordered the removal of all abandoned vehicles parked indiscriminately under bridges across the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, made this known during an emergency meeting with stakeholders, held at Ikeja.
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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 Costain, Apapa, Ajah, and Lekki, among such areas.
In his address, Oreagba, General Manager, LASTMA, had served a 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.
