Lagos gives junk vehicle owners final warning

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government has issued a three day ultimatum to owners of abandoned vehicles in every part of Lagos State in Southwest Nigeria, to evacuate them from  the roads and streets or have them impounded.

The government said, if within three days, abandoned vehicles which litter  roads in the state were not removed, the owners would lose them as government would tow them away.

Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, who gave the warning in Alausa said that owners of abandoned vehicles, especially in Surulere, Mainland, Mushin, Agege, and other Local Governments in the State should remove their vehicles immediately.

He said members of the Committee on Abandoned and Disused vehicles would commence a state wide removal of abandoned vehicles with effect from Monday, 28 January, 2013, starting from Surulere Local Government, Itire – Ikate and Coker – Aguda Local Council Development Areas.

Opeifa stated that the government would not hesitate to remove any vehicle which could serve as haven for criminals, impede free flow of traffic or threaten the safety and security of the people.

He urged Community Development Associations (CDAs) and residents in the state not to hesitate to call or text the following GSM numbers: 08032226544, 08094490867, 08174616936 or send an e-mail to [email protected] whenever there is any abandoned or disused vehicle in their communities.

The commissioner also appealed to mechanics along Third Mainland Bridge up to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) office at Sura, Ilubirin to vacate the entire stretch of the road within three days.  He said that at the expiration of the ultimatum, any mechanic found operating on this axis would be appropriately sanctioned.

Opeifa implored individuals who have their vehicles in these illegal mechanic villages to remove them immediately as owners will bear the cost of vehicles towed.