The Lagos State Government through the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has insisted on a total clampdown on alcohol sales, street trading and hawking on roadsides, setbacks, medians, major highways, parks and garages.
This is as the state government has vowed to sustain its ongoing enforcement operations against these environmental defaulters in the state as part of renewed efforts geared to rid Lagos metropolis of this menace.
This disclosure is contained in a recent statement by the Corps Marshal of LAGESC, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd), who added that street trading on roadsides, pedestrian bridges, setbacks, medians and hawking on major highways constitutes a violation of the State environmental laws which has established the illegality of these acts.
Arrests made, sentences secured
Akinpelu expressed the determination of the Agency to clamp down on all environmental defaulters, especially those displaying alcohol for sale in Lagos parks and garages. She vowed that the LAGESC enforcement drive would be consolidated, adding that there is no hiding place for street traders, hawkers in the State.
She also remarked that the ongoing enforcement against hawkers of alcohol in the State’s garages and parks has been positive, stating that the Agency has made numerous arrests, just as it was able to secure the arraignments and sentences of suspects by the courts.
Enforcement drive to be increased
Admonishing street traders and hawkers to steer clear of Lagos roads, the Corps Marshal issued directives to the Agency’s Special Squad to increase the enforcement drive by apprehending defaulters for arraignment on a daily basis and their seized wares be placed in the Agency’s storage facility.
She further revealed that the State Environmental laws provide for the onward distribution of seized perishable goods to orphanage homes on a daily basis and non-perishables be kept in storage until a court order is secured for public auction whilst generated proceeds are remitted to the state coffers.
Akinpelu also highlighted the continuous need for pedestrians to use strategically-erected pedestrian bridges across major highways in the State to avoid being knocked down by over-speeding motorists.
What you should know
The Lagos State Government had always maintained its opposition to the sales and consumption of alcoholic drinks by motorists at parks, garages and roadsides.
The state government and agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have sustained campaigns against drinking and driving in a bid to curb road accidents. The campaign has been premised on the fact that taking alcoholic drinks before or while driving predisposes drivers to the possibility of having road accidents. But quite a number of drivers have not heeded the warnings of the campaign.
This habit by commercial vehicle drivers is also being encouraged by the continued sale of alcoholic drinks in different sizes in parks across the states despite its ban.
LAGSEC had a few weeks ago seized alcoholic drinks worth millions of naira during a recent raid on parks and garages in the state, with the government expressing concern over the alarming rate of liquor drinks sale in garages, motor parks, roadsides and in traffic.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government had a few days ago, read the riot act to street traders in the state, especially on the Third Mainland Bridge and Eko Bridge, declaring zero tolerance for street trading in the areas and vowing to prosecute violators in mobile courts.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, had maintained that the action by the state government is in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to promote a cleaner and more aesthetic environment in Lagos, ensure total enforcement of the environmental Sanitation laws, and create a safer State for all.
This is a huge step towards eradicating recklessness of danfo, korope and keke drivers in Lagos. If you check the accidents on Lagos roads, you will see that it has reduced tremendously with the banning of okadas on Lagos roads. These accidents have now currently increasing with korope and keke drivers!
The more annoying is the fact the Lagos riles and laws are not meant for these drivers! Only private vehicles respect traffic rules and light. Danfos and others take one way and face oncoming vehicles even on the highways with the police not doing anything! This palpable and horrendous! Governor Sanwo-Olu must quickly address all these anomalies if Lagos must achieve the modern city status!
It is impossible when breweries are still producing sachet alcohol. Ban d production of aichohol/ogogoro that is not in a container of not more than 75cl
The same rule should be enforced for street badgers.
Does this affect does selling roast corn by the roadside, but not hawking?
Lagos government is not serious minded. They just puff huff & nothing happens. Mechanics, panel beaters, spray painters & other roadside traders have taken over area, in Papa Ajao, mushin local government. The local government officials are all complicit in this nonsense. Lagos State can not enforce it’s own laws. What a pity. Everything, is based on sentiment.
Same to everywhere in Lagos those who collect money from those motor running one way, also area boy , agboro, agboro area boys with Lagos state I’d card , omonile need to deal with they’re all threat to humanity.
The people of Canoe in ejigbo, isolo local government will need the assistance of lagsec to clear the menace created daily by the agberos, median traders and street preachers.
This is absolute nonsense. Government has failed woefully over the years at providing job opportunities for the masses and now wants to asphyxiate the people who have gone out of their way to eke out a living through legal means of selling, not Igbo or other illegal hard drugs, but alcohol. Is that the most pressing Nigerian problem now? It’s crazy to even contemplate it.
It is a good measure,,but the illegal collection of money at bus stops, and along roads will also reduce the source of getting money to buy the alcoholic drinks..
It’s the enforcement, okada has been banned yet they’re operating even on Lekki Ajah Road.
It’s like laws like this doesn’t stand.
Those small white buses don’t obey traffic rules, follow one ways, and stop at middle of Express to drop and pick passages.
Lagosians are waiting to see laws been enforced
Lagos State Government should act and not just make empty threats. It has become a trend for them to bark and couldn’t bite hence, the non -law abiding people take Lagos laws for granted.
Lagos state government is agboro that is reason Lagos is the only state in Nigeria that work with criminals in expenses of nonidigen