The operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Agency (Taskforce) has commenced clampdown on illegal commercial motorcycle operators plying restricted routes including all inners streets across Lagos. Chairman of the agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, disclosed that the clampdown which started Thursday had 125 motorcycles impounded for flouting traffic regulations around Ejigbo and Cele bus-stops.
He said the agency was compelled to embark on the crackdown, sequel to a series of complaints received daily from innocent members of the public about criminal activities perpetrated by the illegal commercial motorcycle operators early in the morning and at night.
He said:
“We are going to make sure that there is total compliance with the Lagos Traffic Regulations by commercial motorcycle operators in our Local Governments and Local Council Council Development Areas as well as those operating within inner streets”.
“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”, he added.
According to Egbeyemi, research conducted by the government revealed that most of the riders of commercial motorcycles are not from Nigeria, but from neighbouring countries, adding that some of them were also involved in criminal activities in the State.
He, therefore, warned commercial motorcycle operators to ensure that their motorcycles were 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, Egbeyemi, solicited the cooperation of residents in providing useful security information about criminal activities around them to security agencies through the Lagos State free Emergency Toll Lines 112 & 767.
