Ayodele Olalere
Task Force of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Agency, on Thursday, impounded 125 illegal commercial motorcycle operators plying restricted routes including all inners streets across Lagos.
In a statement by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Assistant Director, Head, Public Affairs Unit , Lagos State Task Force, the motorcycles were impounded for flouting traffic regulations around Ejigbo and Cele bus-stops.
The exercise also served as commencement of clampdown on commercial motorcyclist plying restricted routes.
The statement stated that the agency was compelled to embark on the crackdown, sequel to a series of complaints received on daily basis from innocent members of the public about criminal activities perpetrated by the illegal commercial motorcycle operators both early morning and late at night.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Gov. Bello wins Kogi APC guv’ship primary
“We are going to make sure that there is total compliance with the Lagos Traffic Regulations by all commercial motorcycle operators in all our local governments and Local Council Development Areas as well as by those operating within inner streets,” the statement stated.
“In accordance with the traffic laws, every motorcycle operator must wear crash helmets, be above 18 years, not ride on kerb, median, road-setbacks, avoid restricted routes, not carry more than one passenger, pregnant woman/Adult with baby/child below 12 years, not install any musical gadgets, must wear an apron, not operate beyond 10pm, operate with a rider’s permit and have their motorcycle registered with government”, it added.
According to the Chairman, research conducted by the government revealed that most riders of the illegal commercial motorcycles are not from Nigeria but from neighbouring countries, adding that some of them are also involved in criminal activities in the state.
He, therefore, warned all commercial motorcycle operators to ensure that their motorcycles are duly registered with the government as anyone caught would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law.
While warning the general public, especially motorists to ensure that their valuable items are safely kept while in traffic, the Chairman solicited for the cooperation of all residents in providing useful security information about criminal activities around them to security agencies through the Lagos State free Emergency Toll Lines 112 & 767.
