The new chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, a Chief Supritendent of Police, CSPAdetayo Akerele, has swung into action on the first day of assumption of duty by sanitising Oshodi and ridding it of vehicles parked along the road thereby causing vehicular and pedestrian impediments along that axis.
The Director of Public Affairs, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulrahèm, in a statement made available to Blueprint over the weekend stated that the exercise, which kicked off early Saturday morning, led to the seizure of 92 vehicles parked indiscriminately along the highways and picking up passengers at undesignated bus stops, causing serious impediments to traffic flow and pedestrian movement.
He said Akerele, who was the former second in command of the agency, demonstrated clearly that he knows the job and the terrain.
“This is no longer business as usual. Parking vehicles along the expressway which is meant to serve the entire populace is completely selfish and irresponsible. There is a new sheriff in town and i will make sure Lagosians are no longer shortchanged by commercial bus operators and selfish private vehicle owners.
“Akerele while carrying out a tour of Oshodi and environs decried the manner in which road side traders displayed their goods on the kerb and walkways. He addressed the marketers there and warned them to move their business into the market complex which was designed for it.
“As we all know, this is the rainy season and there is every tendency for us to experience flooding which results from blocked drainage channels in the gutters and collectors. I urge you all to keep your environment clean and habitable and ensure that refuse from the markets are properly disposed at the appropriate dumpsite,” Gbadeyan said.
Akerele said, “It is our collective responsibility to achieve a sane and serene environment for us; therefore I urge everyone to be vigilant and responsible. If you see something, say something.”
He stressed that the owners of vehicles impounded will all be charged to court accordingly and would allow the law to take its full course.
