In the past week, 150 motorcycles were seized by the Lagos State Environmental Enforcement and Special Offenses Unit for breaking traffic laws.
Mr. Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the unit’s spokesman, said on Sunday that 10 people, including motorcycles and passengers, had also been detained and charged with using the BRT corridor.
He said that the motorcycles were seized during a week-long operation in the neighborhoods of Ogba, Apapa, “Trade Fair,” Elemoro, and Ojodu.
Earlier this year, the Lagos State government prohibited the use of commercial motorcycles in certain areas of the state.
According to Abdulraheem, the restriction had been followed to a degree of roughly 95%, but the 150 motorcycles seized were being utilized to break the law.
“It has come to our notice that commercial motorcyclists have aggressively been returning to the restricted routes.
“Any commercial motorcyclist caught will have his motorcycle crushed. Passengers and riders who are caught will be charged in court.
“Ten commercial motorcyclists and passengers were arrested for riding on the restricted BRT corridor.
“They were in court and were fined N50,000 each or serve three months at the Badagry Correctional Centre,’’ he stated.
Abdulraheem reiterated that the unit would continue to enforce the ban to achieve orderliness on Lagos roads.
“No amount of aggression or resistance by commercial motorcyclists can match our determination to create an enabling environment for every law-abiding `Lagosian’,’’ he added.
According to Abdulraheem, the team seized at least 20,000 commercial motorcycles between January and September, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that the team had accomplished a great deal in evicting land speculators.
He asked Lagos citizens to report criminal activity to the police or to the unit and warned that the unit will pursue any dishonest elements still engaged in the practice
