23rd April, 2018
The Lagos State Task Force on Environment said it impounded 98 commercial motorcycles over the weekend for allegedly plying restricted routes within Apapa area of the state.
The Chairman of the Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, told newsmen on Sunday in Lagos that the enforcement was carried out on the directive of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi.
He said the operation was carried out after the commercial motorcyclists failed to heed several warnings to desist from operating on restricted routes, particularly on highways and bridges.
Egbeyemi noted that the state government was not comfortable with the flagrant abuse of law by commercial motorcycle operators following reports of criminal activities allegedly perpetrated around Apapa, Mile 2, Festac, 2nd Rainbow, Ijesha and Orile-Iganmu.
“These commercial motorcycle operators, no doubt have been a sort of menace as their public nuisance and criminal activities at any time of the day are becoming alarming, particularly at Apapa and its environs.
“Some motorcyclists harassed innocent members of the public at various bus-stops around Coconut, Wharf, Tincan-Island and Apapa GRA.
”Others engaged in all sorts of criminal acts by dispossessing their passengers of valuables and also robbing innocent motorists during traffic,” he said.
Egbeyemi said that the commencement of repair work on the 3000-capacity ‘ABAT Truck Terminal’ in Orile-Iganmu and other on-going road constructions/rehabilitations around Apapa axis were part of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s efforts to permanently address the perennial traffic around Apapa.
The chairman advised commercial motorcycle unions to screen and weed out criminal elements amongst them and educate their members properly on the need to strictly adhere to the laws.
He said that the exercise was an ongoing one and appealed to residents to cooperate with the taskforce in its efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.