LASG to take legal action against permanently shut street gates during, after festive period
The Lagos State Government has announced that it will take legal action against individuals who keep their street gates permanently shut during and after the festive period.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Olalekan Bakare, issued this warning in a statement released on Sunday.
According to Bakare, the government has already cautioned landlords and Community Development Associations (CDAs) to adhere to regulations, which require all interlink roads to remain accessible on a daily basis throughout the state.
Failure to comply with these directives may result in the issuance of a warrant of arrest and prosecution of representatives from non-compliant communities, if necessary.
The Lagos State Government is taking this action to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and enhance public safety during the festive period. By keeping street gates open, it will be easier for emergency services and law enforcement agencies to respond promptly to any incidents that may occur.
Bakare said that those acting contrary to street gate regulations were posing a great security threat to the government’s resolve to achieve a safe and secure environment.
“They are advised to desist from the unwholesome acts,” he said.
Bakare said that the policy on street gates was meant to enable easy access for residents and all road users in the state.
He said that the act of denying motorists and pedestrians access through the various community gates before the stipulated time was totally unacceptable to the state government.
“Traffic Officers have been facing serious challenges in diverting motorists to alternative routes through nearby streets because these streets are gated.
“The illegal closure of these gates, some of which are feeder roads to connect highways, also contributes to the activities of criminally minded individuals who indulge in dispossessing residents of their belongings.
“The street gate closure is thereby making it difficult for security agencies come to the rescue of victims or apprehend the perpetrators.
“The act of partial or permanent closure of gates in violation of the regulations of the state affects businesses, encourages miscreants to take advantage of residents and get away with their belongings.
“In case of fire outbreak, the community affected will not be easily accessible by the rescue teams,” Bakare said.
He said that activities of the affected communities had further made free vehicular movement difficult in those restricted areas where roads leading to the closed gates were inaccessible to the motoring public
