By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, have impounded over 100 vehicles including private and commercial vehicles over illegal parking on top bridges across the State.

The enforcement followed the expiration of a seven-day ‘Vacation Order’ issued on Monday, October 16, 2023, to motorists, particularly, commercial bus drivers to desist from operating and vacate bridges across the state.

The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, who led the enforcement operations, explained that the exercise aimed at totally removing every infraction impeding the free flow of traffic on bridges and enforcing the law against illegal parking.

Giwa maintained that the activities of those recalcitrant private owners and commercial bus drivers are contrary to provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

He stated that those vehicles were impounded at areas such as Ejalonibu, Obalende, Apongbon Ebute-Ero, and Idumota (Cater) bridges on Lagos Island.

Giwa, described the menace as “nauseating,” seeing as drivers constitute a public nuisance by operating illegal parking/garages on bridges, thereby causing avoidable gridlock and inconveniencing other motorists and road users.

According to the Special Adviser, “the enforcement operations would be a continuous exercise until zero tolerance on activities of these commercial bus drivers operating illegal parking/garages on top bridges is achieved in line with the ‘Theme+’ agenda of the present administration.

“We would continue to ensure the free flow of traffic movement by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown operations on these stubborn private/commercial bus drivers.

“Therefore, all the contravened vehicles would be immediately charged to the Lagos State Mobile Court for appropriate legal action.”