Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority in continuation of a general enforcement operation to unlock every traffic bottleneck across the state have impounded 123 vehicles over illegal parking/garages around bridges across Lagos Island.
The enforcement, carried out on Tuesday, also led to the arrest of 19 hoodlums collecting money for the illegal parking.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who led a combined enforcement team that had armed police operatives, disclosed that the exercise was carried out based on the directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa.
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Bakare-Oki disclosed further that the Agency swung into action after several warnings issued to both private and commercial bus drivers to stop indiscriminate parking/illegal garages around bridges were not complied with.
He confirmed that the 123 vehicles were impounded around Ebute-Ero by Idumota Bridge, Simpson Bridge, Apongbon under Bridge and Elegbata area of Lagos Island.
According to the General Manager: “It was nauseating seeing these private and commercial bus drivers constituting public nuisance by parking at free will around bridges, thereby causing avoidable gridlock and inconvenience to other motorists and road users using these bridges to link up with other parts of the State.
“We will continue to ensure free flow of traffic by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown on these stubborn private and commercial bus drivers.”
Meanwhile, 19 notorious hoodlums were arrested during an enforcement operation over illegal collection of parking dues from innocent motorists.
Investigation revealed that these arrested 19 notorious hoodlums impersonated themselves as approved government agents with fake identity cards to extort innocent motorists, including illegal traders who sell by roadsides.
The General Manager disclosed that owners/drivers of these 123 contravened vehicles and the 19 arrested hoodlums would be prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.