The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 20 commercial vehicles at the Apongbon Bridge and the Ikorodu Roundabouts area of the State.
This follows a move by the agency to stamp out the operation of illegal garages/parks on bridges and roundabouts across the state.
This was disclosed by the General Manager of the Authority, Bolaji Oreagba, while speaking on the enforcement exercise.
According to him, the illegal activities of the owners of the commercial buses/cars on bridges and roundabouts across the state contravened the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.
He said the commercial bus drivers had constituted themselves into public nuisances by operating illegally on bridges and roundabouts, causing avoidable traffic gridlock and inconveniencing other motorists and road users.
The LASTMA boss said the authority had to embark on the exercise at Apongbon Bridge and Ikorodu Roundabouts after the recalcitrant drivers who did not want to operate within government-designated garages and parks across the State failed to comply with several warnings issued to them.
Oreagba said LASTMA would not relent in curbing illegal activities of the unruly commercial buses/cars operators as the present administration was expending huge resources on constructing standard Bus Terminals in every part of the State.
He said: “We will continue to ensure free-flow of traffic movement around bridges and roundabouts across the State by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown operations on these stubborn commercial buses operating illegal parks, garages and car mart in the State.”
The Head of the Enforcement Unit of LASTMA, Mr. Odunuga Olukayode, in his own comments, restated the agency’s commitment to clamping down on the nefarious activities of disobedient commercial vehicle operators until zero tolerance on illegal garages and parks was achieved across the state.
He disclosed that the arrested drivers of the 20 impounded commercial buses had been fined N100,000 each after they all pleaded guilty to their charges when they were arraigned before a Mobile Court.’
