Lagos State government on Tuesday sealed off the premises of some major commercial transport companies, including Chisco Transport, Ifex Express Limited, and GUO Transport as it commences enforcement of the relocation of inter-state buses from Jibowu to Ojota area of the state.
Other companies affected are God Is Good (GIG) Transport and Peace Mass Transport.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Olufemi Salami, ordered the seal off with the approval of the Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Anofiu Elegushi.
The companies sealed were all ordered to immediately stop operation of cargo services around Jibowu.
Elegushi said the seal-off was a follow-up enforcement of a directive issued earlier this year by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to all transporters operating around the Jibowu and the stretch of Ikorodu Road, to relocate their operations to Ojota.
According to the commissioner, the state government had provided a land to accommodate them at the new site, now known as ‘Ojota Luxury Bus Station.’
He said the Ojota Luxury Bus Station was being made ready by a concessionaire with whom the government had entered into an agreement to build it, with modern facilities, provided.
Elegushi said all that the transporters were required to do was to comply with the government’s directive to relocate to the new station, adding that the transporters were expected to pay a negotiated amount to the concessionaire, to use the new bus station.
Elegushi had earlier at a news conference, after a meeting with stakeholders, declared government’s readiness to enforce the Road Traffic Law.
He said 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 would not sit back and encourage the flagrant disobedience of the law of the state, especially where and when it had 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 portray us to the average first-time visitor to our climes,” he said.
Elegushi vowed that henceforth, all public transportation buses would operate under same law and regulations governing their operations in the state.
To this end, he said higher institution shuttle buses and cantonment shuttle buses would no longer be permitted to operate commercially on the state roads.
“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,” he added.
Elegushi also said all vehicles, motorcycles, 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,” Elegushi said.
ENDS.
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