By Oluwole Farotimi
THE Lagos State Government has announced its determination to ensure strict enforcement of the Road Traffic Law 2012, restricting trailers and long vehicles from plying the metropolis between the hours of 6a.m. and 9p.m.
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, who spoke to journalists at the weekend, on the backdrop of the fatal accident involving a trailer conveying a container on September 2, said the trailer contravened Section 2 (i) and 2 (ii) of the Traffic Law.
Whenu said the state government would henceforth, go tough on any trailer and long vehicle that contravenes the law, as such vehicle would be impounded and made to pay the stipulated fine.
Meanwhile, leaders of various transport unions and associations in the state rose from a meeting with officials of the state government at the weekend, with a resolve to support the new directive introduced in apprehending traffic offenders.
Speaking at the meeting, Whenu said LASTMA officials had not been withdrawn from performing their statutory responsibilities on the road.
He said the new directive would place emphasis on ensuring flawless flow of traffic, while traffic offenders would now be booked and expected to pay their fines within the stipulated period in line with the government’s covenant with Lagosians to make life easier for them.
He, therefore, solicited the co-operation and support of all transport operators in ensuring the success of the new initiative and urged them to warn their members not to see the government’s humaneness as a sign of weakness by attacking LASTMA or any other enforcement agent. He warned that offenders would be sanctioned in accordance with relevant provisions of the law.
In another development, the state government at the weekend, said it would fully enforce the provisions of the law restricting street trading in the metropolis.
The Chairman of the State Task Force on Environmental and Other Special Offences (Enforcement Unit), Olubukola Abe, a Superintendent of Police, who gave the commitment while speaking to journalists in Alausa, Ikeja, said the new drive was to reduce traffic congestion on the roads, often caused by traders, who traded along the streets.
The chairman said Section 1 of the Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003, restricts street trading and hawking in the metropolis.
The Sun
