The Lagos State Taskforce has intensified its clampdown on illegal commercial motorcycle operations, known as okada, seizing 82 motorcycles in recent enforcement activities across different parts of the state.
The operations, conducted in areas like Berger, Mile 2 Oke, and Orile, are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enforce the ban on okada in restricted zones.
CSP Adetayo Akerele, Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to upholding the law and cautioned that both riders and passengers caught violating the ban will face prosecution.
“Passengers on okada are as guilty as the riders. If caught, they will face the full weight of the law alongside the riders,” CSP Akerele stated.
He said the government has maintained its stance on the ban, citing safety concerns and the need to keep Lagos roads free from the chaos often associated with commercial motorcycles.
The impounded motorcycles, according to the Taskforce, will be forfeited to the state government following court procedures.
Residents of Lagos have been urged to comply with the law and avoid patronising Okada in restricted areas, as the task force remains dedicated to maintaining law and order on the state’s roads.
Brigadier General Olawale Matthew Oyekola, Commander of the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, visited the Lagos State Taskforce headquarters on Tuesday, September 24, to emphasise the importance of enhanced interagency cooperation for improving security throughout the state.
General Oyekola and his delegation received a warm welcome from CSP Adetayo Akerele, Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, along with other senior officials of the agency.
The visit aimed to strengthen the collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the Taskforce to ensure the safety of Lagos residents.
In his remarks, Brigadier General Oyekola praised CSP Akerele for the significant progress the Taskforce has made in recent months, particularly in maintaining order on Lagos roads and improving the overall security situation.
He pledged the Army’s readiness to support the task force’s efforts whenever needed, emphasizing the importance of cooperation to effectively address security challenges across the state.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to working closely with the Lagos State Taskforce in its mission to protect lives and property across the state,” Brig General Oyekola said.
Responding to the visit, CSP Akerele expressed gratitude for the Army’s continued support, stressing that the Taskforce remains committed to its mandate as part of the Lagos State Government’s THEMES PLUS Agenda. He assured Brig General Oyekola of the task force’s dedication to maintaining a strong partnership with all relevant security agencies.
“We will continue to work closely with the Nigerian Army and other law enforcement agencies to ensure Lagos remains safe and orderly for everyone,” CSP Akerele said.
Both leaders reiterated the need for a close working relationship between the military and law enforcement, underscoring that a united front is essential to sustaining peace and security in Lagos.
In a concerted effort to enhance emergency readiness across Lagos State, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by Commander CSP Shola Jejeloye, and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), headed by Chairman CSP Adetayo Akerele, on Wednesday, July 31, conducted a joint visibility patrol and fitness walk this morning.
The operation covered key areas, including Ikeja, Old Toll Gate, Oshodi, Ojota, Iyana Oworo, Third Mainland Bridge, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki, Lagos Island, and Apongbon.
The initiative aimed to reinforce the presence of law enforcement agencies and promote physical fitness among personnel.
CSP Jejeloye emphasized the importance of maintaining high visibility in strategic locations to deter criminal activities and ensure a swift response to emergencies.
“Our visibility patrol is essential in reassuring the public of our readiness to tackle any situation that arises,” he stated.
CSP Akerele echoed this sentiment, highlighting the dual purpose of the patrol.
“This initiative not only serves to enhance security across Lagos but also promotes the physical well-being of our officers, which is crucial for their efficiency in the field,” he explained.
The joint patrol received positive feedback from motorists and residents who noted the increased security presence.
The Lagos State Taskforce, led by its chairman CSP Adetayo Akerele, on Wednesday, July 24, conducted a late-night raid on several notorious blackspots.
The operation led to the seizure of over 2,000 litres of bunkered diesel and the apprehension of 114 suspects.
According to him, the task force targeted trouble areas on Mosley Street, Glover Road, and Lateef Jakande Avenue by acting on information from the public and following orders from Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade.
Residents had expressed concerns about the growing presence of unidentified individuals and the transformation of these residential areas into centres for criminal activities.
Akerele clarified that a thorough investigation verified the residents’ reports, leading to the decisive raid.
“We are addressing environmental and safety concerns in Ikoyi, where miscreants have turned inner streets into restaurants, drinking spots, gambling dens, and boutiques. What we found during our investigation was alarming, and we are committed to restoring order immediately,” he said.
The taskforce uncovered an illegal petroleum storage facility during the operation, where over 2,000 litres of diesel were stored unsafely in an abandoned building.
Akerele warned of the severe fire risk posed by such hazardous storage conditions, emphasizing the potential danger to both the building’s occupants and nearby residents.
“We found over 2,000 litres of diesel hidden in an unsafe manner, which could lead to a catastrophic fire. Diesel is highly flammable and combustible, and the negligent storage practices here endanger many lives,” Akerele stated.
In addition to the arrests and diesel seizure, Akerele issued a stern warning to street traders defacing the environment and disposing of waste improperly.
He urged them to relocate to approved markets or face arrest. He also cautioned those using streets as makeshift religious grounds, social event centers, and sports venues to cease these activities or face prosecution, stressing the state government’s commitment to maintaining peace and order.
“I encourage all Lagosians to report any environmental infractions to us. It is our duty to address these issues promptly to ensure the city remains habitable and orderly,” Akerele added.
Out of the 114 suspects apprehended, five were released unconditionally after proper identification and explanation of their activities. The remaining individuals will face charges, and all confiscated items will be forfeited to the state government through the court.
The Director of Press & Public Affairs for the Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, confirmed the details of the raid and reiterated the agency’s commitment to upholding the safety and environmental standards of Lagos.
The Lagos Taskforce has launched a series of raids against illegal street traders in Ikeja area of the state.
The operation, led by CSP Adetayo Akerele, spanned two nights and targeted Alade Avenue, Orishe Street, and Johnson Street, off Obafemi Awolowo Way.
The areas had been converted into makeshift markets and restaurants, leading to severe traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
The Taskforce’s action was aimed to address these persistent issues affecting residents and commuters.
The raids occurred at dusk, when illegal traders set up shop and block roadways as the Taskforce dismantled numerous obstructions during the operation.
Akerele highlighted that the activities violate environmental laws, contributing to indiscriminate waste disposal, clogged gutters, and drainage systems, thereby worsening flooding in parts of the city.
He said: “The activities of street traders, particularly at Johnson Street during the night, are unacceptable. They engage in indiscriminate drug sales and contribute significantly to traffic congestion on Awolowo Road, especially during rush hours. This is unfair to the residents and workers who endure long commutes.”
He further stated that the areas often serve as havens for criminal activities.
Akerele assured that the raids are part of a continuous effort to address the menace of street trading and its associated problems.
He said the Taskforce collaborates with other agencies to ensure strict adherence to the environmental preservation goals outlined in the state’s THEMES PLUS agenda.
He urged illegal street traders to relocate to designated trading outlets, warning that the Taskforce would not relent in its efforts to clear the streets and inner roads of such obstructions.
He encouraged residents to report any instances of illegal street trading or environmental violations to the Taskforce via social media or directly at their headquarters in Bolade Oshodi.
“We are committed to our duty in line with the THEMES PLUS agenda and under the directives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade,” Akerele asserted.
The Taskforce reported that suspects arrested during the raids were screened, with genuine traders released and others set to face legal action.
The director of press & public affairs for the Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem added by affirming the agency’s dedication to improving the quality of life for Lagos residents through rigorous enforcement of environmental and trading laws.
The Lagos State Taskforce has intensified efforts to enforce the ban on commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada, on highways and other restricted routes within the state.
This move aims to curb the persistent menace posed by Okada operators in the areas.
In a recent operation led by the agency chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, Taskforce officials raided several hotspots, including Iyana-Iba Road, Badagry Expressway, Igboelerin, and Alakija, where Okada riders have continued to operate despite the ban.
The crackdown resulted in the seizure of over 105 motorcycles, all of which will be forfeited to the state government.
CSP Akerele emphasised the agency’s commitment to eradicating the illegal operations of Okada riders.
“We are dedicated to enforcing compliance and ensuring that the highways and restricted routes are free from the activities of commercial motorcycles,” he said.
He further stated that the Taskforce has vowed to continue its enforcement activities to completely rid the affected areas of Okada operations, reflecting the state government’s resolve to address the safety and regulatory challenges posed by these commercial motorcycles.
Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the director of press & public affairs for the Lagos State Taskforce, reaffirmed the agency’s determination to uphold the ban and maintain order on the state’s roads.
He said that the operation is part of the strategy by the Lagos State government to improve safety and reduce traffic accidents associated with Okada operations on major thoroughfares and restricted areas.
The Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers in the Office of the Attorney-General has acknowledged receipt of a petition on land grabbing by a businesswoman, Mrs. Adebayo Adewole Aderonke.
Through her lawyer, Ademola Adefolaju, the petitioner seeks to recover her two acres of land from the alleged land grabbers.
The property is at Idi Oparun, Harmony Estate, Oke-Ira Nla in Ajah.
The petitioner said she purchased the land from Alhaji Moroof Owonla in 2012.
According to her, between 2014 and 2016, while in India on medical treatment, she was informed that the land had been sold to a third party, who pulled down her fence and gate.
The petitioner said after returning from her treatment, the agent through whom she paid for the land claimed ignorance of the activities of the third party.
Mrs Aderonke said she was offered money to give up the property, but she refused the offers, following which her workers were attacked and beaten up.
According to her, on January 3, she was informed that the suspected land grabber “had commenced clearing of the land and is attempting to erect a fence thereon”.
She said the property was not only surrounded by thugs and a police van, the fence was still being erected.
The petitioner urged the Lagos government to intervene “by investigating, arresting and interrogating the suspects and prosecuting them if found guilty of running afoul of the law”.
She also prayed to be granted access to and possession of her property “to forestall the likely breakdown of peace, law and order as our client is not amenable to taking the law into her hands at this critical stage.”
The state government urged the petitioner’s lawyer to depose to a verifying affidavit in support of the petition in line with the state Properties Protection Law 2016.
The A-G’s response, signed by the special task force Co-ordinator, Rukayat Shomade, reads: “I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your petition dated 19th January 2024 in respect of the above subject and respond as follows:
“You are required to depose to a verifying affidavit in support of the petition, pursuant to the provisions of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law, 2016.
“You are required to furnish this Office with the residential address of the alleged encroacher(s).
“Upon the fulfilment of the above conditions, you may wish to contact the undersigned for further clarification
“Be assured of our best regards in ensuring Lagos State is free from the menace of land grabbing. Grateful, acknowledge receipt, please.”
