Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) on Friday night impounded 10 vehicles on Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road for driving against traffic, just as it vowed to commence the arrest and prosecution of drivers of vehicles impounded for plying one-way in addition to the forfeiture of the vehicles.
Speaking on the exercise, the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, said his team was on routine enforcement of traffic law in the metropolis when he ran into some of the vehicles driving against traffic on Airport Road on Friday night, adding that the extension of the monitoring exercise in the area by the team led to the seizure of more vehicles contravening the one-way traffic rule.
Expressing surprise about the unending attitude of some motorists driving against the traffic in view of the “impound and auction” policy of the State Government, Jejeloye noted that, henceforth, the Taskforce would start prosecuting drivers of vehicles impounded for one-way contravention to deter violators.
He maintained that despite the seizure and auctioning of the vehicles after obtaining a court order a lot of motorists still drive against traffic, stressing that the agency was determined to implement the Lagos Traffic Law on driving against traffic to the letter.
While noting that it has become necessary to begin the arrest and prosecution of drivers of vehicles impounded for driving against traffic because of the unyielding stance of many motorists, Jejeloye noted that the Lagos State Law provided for one-year imprisonment for drivers of vehicles impounded for one-way contravention as well as forfeiture of such vehicle.
“It is disturbing that you still find many highly enlightened motorists driving against traffic just like the uneducated ones. Motorists should be aware that a lot of lives have been cut short by vehicles driving against traffic, many motorists are still in the habit of driving against the traffic putting pedestrians and other road users’ lives in danger”, he stated.
The Chairman listed the 10 impounded vehicles as Sinotruck (LND 26 XW), Toyota Corolla (BDG 935 FY), A-Zebra (AGL 18 AH), Ford Limited (PF 3622 SPY), Toyota Matrix (KSF 15 DS), Highlander (LSD 01 GR), Toyota Hiace (GGE 506 XZ), Mini Bus (BDG 484 TC), Toyota Hilux (KJA 392 XT) and Toyota Hilux (AAA 987 ET), declaring that the Agency would step up efforts to ensure that perpetrators are made to face justice and that no one would be spared in enforcing the law.
