Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), has warned articulated vehicle drivers to desist from packing their vehicles by the roadsides and blocking the highways, particularly along Lagos-Ibadan express way, Ogere axis, describing such act as barbaric, greedy and an obstruction to free flow of traffic.
Most Senior Officer in the agency, Commander Elias Omonayajo, gave the warning during an interactive session with stakeholders at Ogere TRACE Divisional Command, to address the ugly trend of indiscriminate parking by the roadside.
Commander Omonayajo, said unlawful parking by the roadside pose serious risk and danger to other road users, as well as obstructing free flow of traffic, enjoined articulated vehicle owners to warn their members and drivers against such acts, as safety of lives and property is a collective responsibility.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters, AIG Shola Subair, (Rtd) and the Consultant to the Governor on Security, CP Edward Ajogun (Rtd), expressed Government’s displeasure over indiscriminate parking and blockage of the highway, which is against established traffic rules and orderliness on the road, urging them to support TRACE in its efforts to maintain seamless traffic flow, devoid of crashes and disorderliness.
He stated that the interactive session was to provide lasting solution to the menace, noting that a taskforce would be constituted to start enforcement and apprehension of recalcitrant offenders.
Responding, Seriki Awusawa of Ogere, Alhaji Abudullahi Abubakar, appreciated the government for availing them the opportunity to hear their concerns, promising to continually educate the drivers to abide by the law and make use of designated areas provided by the Government.
He thereafter appealed to the State Government to help them commence palliative work inside the garages, which needed attention.
In their separate submissions, Oba Babatunde Onimeji, Imeji kingdom represented by Iyaloja, Tiwa New Town, Ogere, Chief Bunkuola Sonubi and Adenuga Ridwan, representing Dangote Sugar, remarked that the challenge of illegal parking and blockage of highways happened to be a collective responsibility that demanded sensitisation, advocacy and enforcement.
The meeting had in attendance, stakeholders which cut across TRACE, FRSC, NSCDC, AMOTEKUN, the POLICE, Road Union leaders from NUPENG (PTD), NURTW, RTEAN, NARTO, MAN members from DANGOTE, NESTLE, APPLE as well as PEARS and community leaders.
