23rd August, 2011
Car wash operators in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have been warned against damaging the roads through their operation.
The call was made at the weekend by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure, Engr. Wasiu Olokunola, at a meeting with the executives of Car Wash Association of Nigeria (CAWAN).
Olokunola charged them to embrace practices that supported road infrastructure in Lagos State and avoid damages to the roads.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by Engr. Adeniyi Abdul, Director, Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Department, noted that a recent study on road failure revealed that activities of car wash operators top the list of causes.
He said government’s investment on roads was too high for it to be left to any individual or institution to violate at will, adding that sand flushed from vehicles were washed into the drains creating heavy silt, just as water indiscriminately flowed to the roads there from.
While advising the association to quickly embark on enlightenment of their members, the director stated that government would not tolerate any abuses on the roads. Earlier, the association led by the state chairman, Alhaji Adegoke Azeez and the legal adviser, observed that there had been the emergence of some operators who had consistently refused and neglected to comply with reasonable and ideal principles of car wash operation in the state.
According to him, the problems had been those who operated on government setbacks, those without proper drainage system and those using residential premises.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga