By Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsuru Olowoopejo

The Lagos State Government, yesterday, sealed off the premises of some major commercial transport companies, at Jibowu, along Ikorodu Road as it commenced enforcement of the relocation order of inter-state buses from Jibowu to designated Ojota area of the state.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Olufemi Salami, on-behalf of the state government, ordered the sealing off with the approval of the Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Anofiu Elegushi.

The transport company premises sealed, include: Chisco Transport, Ifex Express Limited, and GUO Transport, God Is Good (GIG) and Peace Mass Transport, with the directive to vacate immediately and stop further operation of cargo and pssssenger services around Jibowu.

According to Elegushi, the action was a follow-up enforcement of a directive earlier issued this year by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to all transporters operating around Jibowu and the stretch of Ikorodu Road, to relocate their operations to Ojota, where the government had provided alternative accomodation for operation, called “Ojota Luxury Bus Station.”

According to him, “The Ojota luxury bus station has been concession in an agreement with government to build it, with modern facilities, provided. Therefore, all the transporters are required to comply with the government’s directive to relocate to the new station.”

Anofiu, however, said that the transporters would be expected to pay the concessionaire, to use the new bus station, but that the amount to be paid would be negotiated.

Earlier, Elugushi at a stakeholders’ meeting in Alausa, Ikeja, declared government’s readiness to enforce the Road Traffic Law, saying that “the state government in its resolve to take the economy to higher heights with the goal of making it the third largest on the continent will not sit back and encourage the flagrant disobedience of the law of the state, especially where and when it has to do with the security and safety of the people.

“Businesses and investments can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and obedience of extant laws. Indeed, our driving style and habits eloquently portrays us to the average first time visitor to our climes.”

Elegushi, warned that henceforth, all public transportation buses would operate under same law and regulations governing their operations in the state, saying that to this end, higher institution shuttle buses, cantonment shuttle buses would no longer be permitted to operate commercially on the state roads.

He continued, “They should restrict their operations to the campuses, base or cantonment for which they are licensed to operate shuttle services. Heads of the various higher institutions,  cantonment and base  commandants, and so on, will ensure all shuttle service buses approved for operation on their grounds are so restricted

“Commercial bus/taxi operators are to comply with laid-down regulations governing such operations. Such include, among others, registration of the vehicles with the relevant Department of the ministry and being painted in approved colours. Such vehicles must also comply with the regulations guiding their operations which include but not limited to obtaining driver and conductor’s badges and vehicle body tag for delineation of routes. This is what ensures that such vehicle is traceable in the event of any eventuality.”

Elegushi also said all vehicles, motorcycle and tricycles, were to note the provisions of the 2012 law for compliance and that for the avoidance of doubt, bicycles, motorcycles and tricycles were prohibited from plying the roads listed in Schedule II of the Road Traffic Law.

“We wish to, however, call attention to Ikorodu, Lagos-Abeokuta and Iju Roads, and especially so, the BRT corridor. Violators, both the operator(s) and passenger(s) on being apprehended, will be subjected to the provisions of the extant law. Henceforth, the use of vehicles not painted in the state approved colours for commercial purpose is discouraged,” he said.