The Lagos State Government has said it has evacuated about 2000 abandoned vehicles within the city metropolis.

The state Commissioner for Transportation Mr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed during his annual ministerial which held last week at the Alausa, Lagos.

“ Through the work of the Abandoned and Disused Committee and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) activities, the ministry continued the removal of accident, abandoned and disused vehicles from major highways in the state, working with Community Development (CDA/CDC), the ministry is now engaged in the removal and disused vehicles in the neighbourhood and inner streets” he stated.

He urged CDAs, resident associations and individuals to alert the ministry whenever they notice any abandoned vehicles in their communities or on the roads.

Reviewing the ministry’s scorecard over the last year, the commissioner disclosed that the state has embarked on massive enlightenment of road users in the state.

To this end, he said pavement markings have been completed on 44 roads in the state, while work is ongoing in on 21 roads.

He added that government has concluded plans to commence pavement marking work on 16 roads within the metropolis, adding that the efforts was meant to educate road users on how best to use the roads.

According to the commissioner, Amara Olu Street in Agidingbi, Ikeja, Agubiade Street, Alfa Nla Road, Capitol Road all in Agege, Lawani Street, Onitiri Yaba, Bilikisu Iyede, Street, Onitiri, Yaba, Layi Oyekanmi Street, Mushin, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way are among the roads which pavement markings were completed.

Also work is ongoing on several roads including Old Abeokuta road, Moshalasi- Costain, Surulere, Town Planning Way, Ilupeju By Pass by Railway Crossing, Ogunlana Drive, Governor Road Ikotun-Igandu, Ojuelegba-Itire Road, Surulere Itire, among others.

“Beyond aesthetics, it is also used to delineate the roads so as to ensure that motorists maintain their lanes, Some of these pavement markings include kerb painting, lane marking and road signage inscribed right on the such as the zebra/ pedestrian crossing, directional or destination arrows, yellow Box or offside Rule, use of colours, solid or broken lines and worded instructions just to mention a few” he said.

In said that that plans are underway to issue license to all automarts in the state to control the way auto dealers’ liters vehicles in every nook and crannies.

“All automartts in the state is meant to obtain operating license from the government, the will enable us checkmate the rate with which the dealers liter the state with vehicles”

The ministry said that in all, it proposed to pave mark 82 roads covering about 210 kilometres, adding that the project has improved traffic situation, safety, road discipline and positive road use attitude of motorists while occurrence of accidents has reduced in the state.

In order to engender safe driving culture, Opeifa said government has concluded plans to new drivers’ license scheme next month.

He commended the management of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) saying the agency remained the best thing to have happened to the state.

“LASTMA remains the master stroke in Nigeria; it is the best thing to have happened to the country. They have gone all kinds of training programme to make service delivery a watchword”

It is recalled that LASTMA was established to address the precarious and chaotic traffic situation in the state which is measured by hours of traffic delays and congestion, kilometer of traffic queues, associated health complications and the billions of man hour loss.