Lagos task force begins clamp down on council traffic officials today

OPERATIVES of the Lagos State Task Force would today, Monday, begin a major clampdown on illegal activities of local government traffic officials across the state.

The Lagos State Task Force chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, made this known in a statement yesterday that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Imohimi Edgal, ordered the clampdown.

Egbeyemi said the illegal activities of notorious traffic officials were worrisome to the state government as cases of extortion of motorists continue to rise.

According to him, the council traffic officials were harassing Lagos motorists under the guise of enforcing the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012. “We have received reports of instances of illegal arrest, extortion and general impunity on the part of the local government operatives. As a responsive and responsible government, the rights of Lagosians, including motorists, is paramount to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

“The ban on all local government traffic officials from controlling or engaging in traffic duties by the governor still stands. Traffic management is not a responsibility of the third tier of government. CP Edgal Imohimi has therefore said that only Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) task force and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) can perform traffic duties in Lagos,” Egbeyemi said.

He urged motorists to always adhere strictly to traffic regulations and report illegal activities of notorious traffic officials to the nearest police station.

He also enjoined chairmen of local governments and local council development areas in the state to maintain zero tolerance for illegal traffic duties in their respective domains.