LASTMA impounds 123 illegally parked vehicles in Lagos, arrests 19 suspects
123 cars were seized by agents of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) for parked and using unauthorised garages near bridges on Lagos Island.
The exercise was conducted on the instruction of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, according to a statement released on Wednesday, March 6, and signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Agency, Adebayo Taofiq. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager of LASTMA, led the enforcement team.
According to Bakare-Oki, following multiple warnings to private and commercial bus drivers to cease careless parking and illegal garages near bridges, the 123 vehicles were impounded near Ebute-Ero by the Idumota Bridge, Simpson Bridge, Apongbon under Bridge, and Elegbata area of Lagos Island.
He said, “It was nauseating seeing these private and commercial bus drivers constituting public nuisance by parking at free will around bridges thereby causing avoidable gridlock and inconvenience to other motorists and road users using these bridges to link up with other parts of the state.
Meanwhile, 19 hoodlums were arrested during an enforcement operation over illegal collection of parking dues from innocent motorists, according to the statement.
Investigation revealed that the arrested hoodlums had impersonated approved government agents with fake identity cards to extort innocent motorists including illegal traders who sell by roadside.
The General Manager disclosed that drivers of the impounded vehicles and the arrested hoodlums would be prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.