Lagos bans inter-state buses, vehicles along Ikorodu road
The Lagos State government yesterday announced the restriction of the operation of inter-state commercial vehicles operating along Ikorodu Road from going beyond Ojodu Berger and Ojota motor parks.
The state government has also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the operators to relocate to the designated inter-state motor parks at Ojodu Berger and Ojota, after which stiff sanctions would be applied to defaulters.
Speaking after embarking on a joint inspection tour of the ongoing construction of a modern bus terminal at Yaba and the beautification project at Jibowu, both in the Lagos metropolis, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the decision of the government was in line with the determination of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration “to free the city from avoidable nuisances and install sanity and civility in the environment.”
Ayorinde said the inspection was a follow-up to an earlier visit by the governor to the area, adding that all the necessary quit notices had already been served on the affected operators.
He said, “This is a follow-up on the visit of Gov Ambode to this axis last night and he was very displeased with what he saw, particularly in the manner with which long buses, inter-state buses are using the main town. What we have done so far is the initial announcement to say that henceforth, we will no longer allow inter-state buses to be along Ikorodu Road.”
Speaking on the reason for the ban, the Commissioner said activities of the operators had not been “tidy and decent” despite repeated warnings, and that government could no longer sit and watch such things to continue in the overall interest of the people.
“In the overall interest of the public, what is tidy, what is decent and civilized is to move them to where they really belong so that we can free the city. There are major bus terminals springing up. People have seen what we are doing in Yaba, which will be ready by December. They have seen what we have done at the TBS and Ikeja, which are all part of the overall plan. What we have done is in the best interest of Lagosians, taxpayers and the public,” the Commissioner said.