By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lagos State government has directed local governments in the state as well as market association to immediately stop the collection of revenues and levies from traders selling their wares along railway tracks across the state.
Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, Mr Olayinka Egbeyemi, gave this order while declaring that henceforth, illegal traders on rail tracks in the state would be arrested by his agency and their goods seized.
Mr Egbeyemi said he does not want the collection of fees from illegal traders on railway lines around Oshodi, Mushin, Ikeja-Along, Yaba, Oyingbo and Agege as anyone caught would be severely dealt with in accordance with the Law.
He explained that the decision to clamp down on all illegal traders along railway tracks across the state was because it was against the Environmental Law of the State.
He maintained that in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law, it was totally unlawful for anyone to hawk, sell or buy goods on railway tracks including all road setbacks and walkways across the State.
“Strategically, this unusual and dangerous trading practice has led to the death of some people, especially those who were not quick enough to move away from the path of an oncoming train.
“The primary responsibility of any government is to protect the lives and property of the people. As such, the present administration will not relinquish such enormous responsibility.”
In a related development and in line with the state’s policy of eradicating the menace of miscreants and hoodlums, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgal Imohimi, has directed Mr Egbeyemi to carry out a raid on all criminal hideouts across the state.
Following the directive, no fewer than 23 notorious miscreants were apprehended over the weekend by the agency during an overnight raid around Shitta area of Surulere.
Some substances suspected to be Indian hemp as well as other outlawed illicit drugs such as ‘Novalyn and Codeine cough syrups’ were confiscated.
Also, another eight members of the notorious ‘Awawa Boys’ cultism gang were arrested during enforcement operations carried out around Capitol, Isale-Oja and Agege.
Mr Egbeyemi regretted that most parents have abdicated their responsibility towards their children as youths are now deeply in involved in various forms of gangsterism, stressing that most of the violent crimes being committed in Lagos are being perpetrated by teenagers who lack parental care.
While maintaining that the agency would continue to raid all areas known to be inhabited by undesirable elements across the state, he disclosed that all those that have been arrested will soon be charged to court for prosecution.
Adedapo Adesanya