Lagos Task Force to begin arrest of NURTW members collecting tolls on roads

• Seeks end to buying, selling on highways, streets

THelagos State Task Force, yesterday, said it will start arresting members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW) and others caught collecting tolls on the highways across the state.

It also warned against those displaying wares by the roadside, selling on Kerbs, illegal blocking of streets for social activities, pollution of the environment and indiscriminate parking of vehicles.

The agency further warned against the usage of unapproved buses and bus stops, street trading and illegal collection of fees on the highways, insisting that sanity must be restored no matter how long it takes.

Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, Chief Superintendent of Police ( CSP), Shola Jejeloye, who disclosed this, in a statement, yesterday, urged officers to carry out all- round operations in areas such as Iyana- Ipaja, Oshodi, Ikeja Along, Yaba, and other places, where residents face heavy traffic logjam and hardship caused by traders, who display wares on the road and obstruct easy passage of vehicles.

He said: “It is worrisome to spend hours in traffic because of unauthorised displays of wares by traders on our roads.

“We have to put a stop to that by ensuring that activities involving buying and selling are taken off the roads and into markets designed for such.”

Jejeloye also blamed street trading for giving room to traffic robbery in parts of the state.

“There are instances, where some street traders carry out their activities during the day and when it gets dark, they pull out dangerous weapons to rob motorists in traffic.”