By Mary BASSEY, Senior Investigator Correspondent, Lagos/
LAGOS- PANDEMONIUM broke out yesterday after armed operatives of the Lagos security Taskforce stormed Oshodi railtrack and dislodge traders who displayed their wares along the railway line. The officers also stormed Apongbo under bridge and chased away street traders who defied the state government directives on the bridge. Some of the traders who were caught unawares scampered to safety even as they tried to pick as many as possible their wares scattered on the railing. A statement by the Director of press and Public Relations, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem made available to CrimeWorld magazine online said enough time were given to the traders to desist from displaying their wares on an unapproved spots in the metropolis but neglected the directives.
He said, “The Lagos State Taskforce has matched words with actions to rid the State of indiscriminate display of goods on the Highways, Road side, kerb and railway tracks across various parts of the Metropolis through enforcement exercises carried out by the Agency today. The simultaneous operations which were tactically supervised by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye was as a result of the directives of the State Government to all Environmental enforcement agencies of Government saddled with the responsibility of restoring sanity on the walkways, highways and rail tracks where some individuals incessantly carry out trading activities which not only debase the environment but also cause pain and discomfort to Lagosians.
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Jejeloye disclosed that several notices have been served to traders, especially those at Oshodi rail track where the Agency carried out a sensitization and a subtle on the 23rd of May 2023 to discourage them from returning to the tracks but it fell on deaf ears. Our warnings have been sent out to them for as long as two years ago but they don’t listen. We served notices at Fagba where some people built shanties, kiosks from Fagba all the way to Pen Cinema and Isokoko thereby shortchanging motorists and pedestrians who should enjoy free movement along that axis. It is completely unfair to all Lagosians and we will make sure that they are all cleared out with immediate effect”.
The Chairman stated that though both the buyer and seller involved in these activities should be arrested, he tries to strike a balance and avoid double jeopardy by only seizing the goods found on the rail tracks and urged the Market leaders to come down to the Headquarters of the Agency for a round table engagement to foster a permanent solution to end this menace.
Continuing Gbadeyan stressed, “In a related development, The Lagos State Taskforce carried out an all night raid up to this morning underneath Apongbon Bridge where traders were asked to vacate the area in order to forestall any environmental mishaps that could re occur and lead to could lead to loss of lives and property the and jeopardize the safety and security of Lagosians. Jejeloye disclosed that the action was necessary following the reopening of Eko Bridge after it had been shut for 15 months after a fire outbreak had occurred due to the activities of traders haphazardly clustered under the Bridge. He stated that it was necessary for the Agency to take these steps at this location and other strategic locations where the activities of Street traders posed a major threat to the Environment and general well being of Lagosians.
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He appealed to all traders to relocate their activities to the complex provided by the State Government and desist from carrying out activities that are counter productive to the State; saying, “Achieving a Mega City status as enshrined in the THEMES Agenda of the State Government is a collective effort and all hands must be on deck to ensure its sustenance. We will carry out these enforcement exercise on a daily basis to ensure we achieve our aim and anyone found going against the law will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly”
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