The Lagos State Taskforce on Thursday impounded 253 okadas for plying Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, which is prohibited for their use.
The exercise was orchestrated by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye who disclosed that these sets of operations were warnings to okada operators.
Jejeloye described Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as a take-off point for okada operators who violate the Lagos State Traffic laws by operating on that particular Highway and Apapa Local Government Area which is one of the LGA’s where okada operations had been banned outrightly.
“We have been to this particular location about twice because of the sensitivity of the corridor and routes it connects. However, our leniency has been taken for granted by these okada operators and perpetrators of illegalities in this area who feel we are oblivious to their activities. We surprised them today and confiscated all bikes that operate here. I am sure they would have gotten the picture by now,” he said.
The Chairman described the activities of the okada operators as despicable as a result of their large numbers that congregate along the Expressway, thereby constituting nuisance and creating unnecessary bottlenecks on the highway.
“From the volume of bikes seized you can imagine what this location looks like at rush hour. We have come to put an end to it so that Lagosians can have a breath of fresh air and commute along this axis peacefully.”
Jejeloye addressed illegal merchants of petroleum products who deal in the sale of petrol on the Highways saying that their days of engaging in such illegalities are numbered. He assured them that the Lagos State State Taskforce would swoop in heavily on them till sanity and environmental decorum is restored to the area.
He assured Lagosians that the Agency would keep up with the back-to-back enforcement for compliance exercises across all nooks and crannies in the State till the THEMES PLUS agenda of the State Government is actualised and sustained.