Nigerian Police
Traffic:
Nigerian Police
Traffic: Police Launch Joint Operation on Lagos
Roads
… Identify Worst Hit Areas, To Impound Cars Of Defaulting
Motorists
The Lagos State Police Command has launched a joint operation with
other sister agencies to seriously tackle the upsurge in traffic
gridlock on roads across the State caused by lawlessness on the
part of some motorists, among other factors.
Tagged Operation Restore Sanity On Lagos Roads/Operation Velvet,
the police said it would henceforth impound the cars of defaulting
drivers and arraign them immediately in a Mobile Court that will be
attached to the joint service team to enable quick dispensation of
justice to erring motorists.
In a statement on Sunday by the Public Relations Officer of the
State Police Command, CSP Chike Oti, the police said it had already
identified the worst hit areas, while the joint operation team
involving the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA),
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) had been constituted to commence enforcement
activities with immediate effect.
According to Oti, “The frustrations of commuters plying Lagos
roads, substantially caused by recent upsurge in the volume of
traffic and lawlessness of some road users with its attendant
gridlock, has attracted the attention of the Nigeria Police, Lagos
State Police Command and it has resolved to tackle the hydra headed
problem with all the seriousness it deserves in order to bring back
law and order on the roads through a Joint Service Operation code
named ‘Operation Restore Sanity On Lagos Roads/Operation
Velvet.’
“The Command identified the underlisted places as worst hit
areas requiring robust intervention by security agencies: Akpongbon
Bridge, Obalende Bridge, Idumota inward Iddo, Marina, Victoria
Island by Bar beach, Ijora-Marine bridge, Oshodi Apapa Expressway,
Ijora-Badia to Alakia junction, Ojuelegba under bridge, Tradefair,
Alakija, Volks, Iyana-Oba, Alaba Rago, Festac 1st Gate, 2nd
Rainbow, Agege Motor Road, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Allen Avenue,
Agidingbi by Omole and Ile Zik to Mangoro.
“Others are Oko Oba Road, Ashade Road, College Road, Elere Oke
Koto, Pedro by Charlie Boy, Ketu Mile 12, Maryland Intersection,
Odo Iyana Alaro, BRT Lane inward Ojuelegba, Jibowu, Bariga Traffic
towards express, Lekki Admiralty Way, Freedom Way Ikate, Chevron
Roundabout, VGC Roundabout, Ilaje Bus Stop, Ajah, Ado Road by Ajah,
Abraham Adesanya Roundabout, Customs Point by Agbara Bridge, Agege
Road by Dopemu, Ikotun Egbeda Bus Stop and Iyana-Ipaja
Roundabout.”
Oti added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal had
already met with State Chairmen of all major transport unions and
leadership of LASTMA and FRSC where the root causes of the chaotic
traffic were traced to activities of motorists driving against
traffic, adding that the relevant laws would be applied to address
the situation.
“In a meeting held on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at Powa
Secretariat, Oduduwa Street, GRA Ikeja, attended by the State
Chairmen of all major transport unions in the State, Federal Road
Safety Corps officials and the Lagos State Traffic Management
Agency (LASTMA), the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP
Imohimi Edgal, noted the activities of intransigent commercial
drivers and motorcyclists as well as motorists driving against
traffic and on the BRT lanes, as root causes of the chaotic traffic
situation being experienced in the State.
“He, therefore, warns that the police in collaboration with
sister agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Civil
Defence Corps of Nigeria Lagos State Traffic Management Agency
(LASTMA), will impound the cars of defaulting drivers and arraign
them immediately in a Mobile Court that will be attached to the
Joint Service Team to enable quick dispensation of justice to
erring motorists,” Oti quoted the CP as saying.
The police said the decision to come up with the enforcement
became imperative owing to the fact that if allowed unchecked, the
situation has the potential to lock down the entire State and bring
the wheel of economic activities to a grinding halt.
CSP CHIKE OTI
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, LAGOS STATE
OCTOBER 28, 2018