Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has warned residents of the state to be wary of terrorists who could disguise as street hawkers.

The governor underlined the need for residents of the state to see the last two months of the year as a period that calls for vigilance and a changed attitude towards issues relating to crime and terrorism.

The governor, on Friday, in Lagos, at an emergency Security Council meeting, which he chaired, urged the people of the state to cooperate with the government at all times, just as he warned them against the dangers of patronising street hawkers.

“The next hawker could be a robber or terrorist. You are now well-advised. If we all cooperate and decide not to buy, gradually and collectively, the hawkers will not come to the highways and streets anymore. Our roads will definitely become safer.

“Our security agencies have been directed to increase their presence on the roads and highways to ensure greater safety. Once again, I am committed to a safer, cleaner and more prosperous Lagos; a Lagos that works for all,” he said.

Ambode told Government House correspondents after the meeting that it had become evident that traffic crimes and robbery are mostly as a result of the menace of okada riders and street hawkers, while recalcitrant commercial buses have become lawless and reckless on the road.

The governor read the Riot Act to commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called okada riders, commercial buses and street hawkers, saying that the state government would no longer tolerate their nefarious activities on the streets and highways which, he said, had caused untold hardship for the people of the state in recent times.

He said the Council made far-reaching decisions at the meeting in line with the commitment of his administration to ensure security of lives and property as well as enforcing of the rule of law.

The governor said that the government would not allow a few notorious elements to cause a breakdown of law and order and upset the peace that the state had enjoyed over the years.

To this end, he said he had directed the full enforcement of the Lagos Road Traffic Laws, especially as it concerns the restriction of okada and tricycle operations.

He reminded that Schedule II of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012 restricts okada, tricycle (Keke Marwa), carts and wheel barrows on some routes, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Third Mainland Bridge.

Other routes are Eti-Osa/Lekki–Epe Expressway, Lagos–Badagry Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege Motor Road and Eti-Osa/Lekki Coastal Road.

“Any person who fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction as stipulated in the law.

“Henceforth, all commercial vehicles except Bus Rapid Transport buses must use only the service lanes in accordance with existing traffic laws. All conductors of commercial buses must sit down in their buses and keep the doors closed at all times while in motion. It is against the law for conductors to hang on the bus doors and leave the doors open. Any contravention will be met with severe punitive measures.”

•Text courtesy of Saturday Tribune.

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