Lagos govt impounds vehicles for illegal parking

The La0gos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) seized more than 100 private and commercial vehicles that were using unlawful parking spaces and garages on bridges throughout the state yesterday.

The enforcement operations were spearheaded by Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Transportation. Giwa revealed that the exercise was conducted after a seven-day vacation order, which was issued on Monday, October 16, for drivers of commercial buses and drivers of automobiles to vacate all illegal garages on bridges, expired.

According to Giwa, the enforcement's goal was to completely eradicate any infraction preventing the free flow of traffic across bridges.

According to him, the 100 vehicles that were in violation were apprehended at the Lagos Island bridges of Idumota (Cater), Obalende, Apongbon Ebute-Ero, and Ejalonibu.

He described it as sickening to witness those drivers of private or commercial buses running unlawful parking and garages on bridges, creating unnecessary traffic jams and creating inconvenience for other cars.

 He said: “The enforcement operations would be a continuous exercise until zero tolerance on activities of these commercial bus drivers operating illegal parking/garages on top bridges is achieved in line with the agenda of the present administration.

“We would continue to ensure free flow of traffic movement by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown operations on these stubborn private/commercial bus drivers.”

He claimed that the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018's requirements were broken by the actions of these uncooperative commercial bus drivers.

However, Giwa disclosed that all of these illegal vehicles—private and commercial—would be reported right away to the Lagos State Mobile Court in order to face legal action.

Source