Ember Months: LASTMA warns illegal traders causing traffic gridlocks on major roads
By Ibrahim Adeleke
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have warned illegal traders to stop conducting businesses on major roads in the State thereby causing traffic gridlocks.
The LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, gave the warning over the weekend while addressing officers on the need to ensure free flow of traffic during and beyond ‘Ember Months’ across the State.
Oreagba noted that activities of the illegal traders impede free flow of traffic on major roads.
He stated that Section (1) of the Lagos State Street trading and Illegal markets prohibition Law of 2003 prohibits both buyers and sellers from engaging in business activities at an unauthorized place, saying there are various penalties which may include jail terms for anyone found guilty of contravening the Law.
“It has become worrisome having to spend many hours in traffic caused by illegal traders on our roads, thereby creating an artificial bottleneck.
“We have to put a stop to that by ensuring that activities involving buying and selling are taken off the roads and put back into market complex designed for such,” he commented.
According to him, this warning was also meant to protect lives of illegal traders from unforseen circumstances such as accidents from reckless private/commercial/truck/tanker drivers.
The General Manager lamented that the illegal trading activities persisted, despite several warnings to stop the traders from displaying and selling wares on main roads, medians, road setbacks, bus-stops, and drainage alignments.
Oreagba, however, called on market leaders to support the Agency in ensuring that activities of the illegal traders are put under check to make the roads free for motorists and other road users across the State.
