Tag: LASG

LASG reviews traffic law to drop cruel auction of vehicles

Lagos State Government, LASG, has said it is reviewing its traffic law following the backlash that greeted the recent auction of impounded vehicles.

LASG, in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, last week Thursday, auctioned 134 forfeited and abandoned vehicles at the Taskforce compound in Alausa, Ikeja.

Some of the cars being auctioned were confiscated, not for ONE WAY Alone, there are other offices that attracts just a fine but some people run away from the Court Process, that is why they have been forfeited to the State Government after the stipulated period.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that the role of Lagos State Taskforce is to carry out enforcement exercise which is the confiscation of vehicles for traffic offenses, and handing them over to the MOBILE COURT (with evidence) for Judgement.

Reacting to developments since the vehicles were auctioned, the commissioner for justice and attorney-general of the state, Moyosore Onigbanjo, insisted that the auction followed due process.

Moyosore Onigbanjo

“All the cars that were auctioned, some were abandoned and then notices were even given in adverts in the Punch newspaper that if your car has been abandoned in the yard, you can still come and pick it up before the auction date,” he told Channels TV on its breakfast show Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

“In respect of the forfeited cars, they were forfeited pursuant to orders of the court of law,” Onigbanjo said.

He also spoke on the viral clip where a man broke down in tears and was begging the bidders to stop bidding for his vehicle.

Onigbanjo said the man in the trending video pleaded guilty to charges against him in court.

He said the law was, however, being reviewed by the Lagos House of Assembly to inject “humaneness into the law” to avoid people losing their sources of livelihood when they break the law.

“This issue of driving against traffic has become such a nuisance, such a danger, and such a menace to society that something drastic has to be done and the legislators at that time imposed these penalties,” he said.

The commissioner urged residents to “make agitations to their representatives” on the section of the law they want to be amended.

September 21, 2022
LASG embarks on demolition of illegal structures in Lekki

The Lagos State Government, LASG, through its agencies (Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Agency, LASPEMA and Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA) has embarked on the demolition of illegal structures along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

According to a statement on Monday, the General Manager of LASPEMA, Daisi Oso, who spoke during the joint exercise, said the structures were built under power transmission lines.

He said, “Months back, appeals were made and contravention notices were served to all owners/occupiers of car lots, shanties, and other informal business operators on setbacks along Lekki-Epe Expressway axis, without compliance.

“Lekki remains a very critical area and one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing axis, where both government and private sectors are making huge investments. Because of this, the state government will continue to preserve the environment and anything less becomes an irritant because the present government is committed to achieving its THEMES agenda.

“This demolition exercise will be extended to other parts of the state, especially where infractions are noticed on setbacks/incidental open spaces.

“These illegal structures were erected under power transmission lines and the state government, under any administration, did not issue any approval/permit to occupants of the concerned areas for either business or residential purposes against claims from some quarters.”

TheNewsGuru.com reports that LASBCA came into being through the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2010, but it officially started in August 12, 2012.

It Is an Agency set up to ensure that basic minimum standards are maintained in building construction and renovation in order to ensure that existing and new buildings are safe, healthy, accessible and habitable for present and future generations.

The Agency works together with developers or owners to provide a highly quality service and to make sure that all building works are satisfactorily carried out. LASBCA also work closely with other government agencies such as Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA).

LASBCA is governed by Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, LASBCA regulations and the National Building Codes.

Recall that Lagos State Government, in its commitment to making the state attain its desired goal of a well-planned and healthy environment suitable for all established the Lagos Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority in 2001 by the former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Authority is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring road setbacks and incidental open spaces to prevent their abuse/misuse and ensure urban aesthetics as well as coordinate site selection for the location of informal businesses to ensure compliance with the State Operative Development Plan in collaboration with Physical Planning Department.

One of the Agency’s major functions also includes issuing Operational Permit or Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to informal business operators in the State among others.

September 20, 2022
Why we’ll shut Ladipo, Oyingbo markets indefinitely- LASG

The Lagos State Government, LASG, has announced that Ladipo and Oyingbo markets would be shut on Thursday, September 22, 2022 till further notice following reckless waste dumping and refusal to pay for waste services, and general poor waste management situation.

Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, who gave the notice, described the unwholesome environmental practices by traders in those markets as unacceptable despite repeated warnings.

Odumboni said that their activities have called for necessary and immediate sanctions.

He said, “Our attention has been drawn to the deplorable state of the environment around Ladipo Market, Mushin and Oyingbo Market, resulting from reckless waste dumping by traders.

“Despite serving them abatement notices, they have continued the mindless environmental violation. We are left with no other choice than to evoke the necessary sanction of shutting down the markets. This is also meant to serve as a deterrent to other nonchalant markets.”

He said that the authorities had, in recent times, redoubled its efforts to ensure that business activities in all Lagos markets were carried out in a clean and safe environment, for the good of all.

Odumboni noted further that “We have intensified our sanitation efforts by deploying trucks to clear black spots across the metropolis, especially business facilities.

“However, these efforts are being tainted by the activities of mischievous persons who would rather dump their waste indiscriminately on the roads, than pay for waste services.”

He urged traders in other markets to adhere strictly to environmental hygiene or risk indefinite closure of their markets.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that the LAWMA, formerly known as Lagos State Refuse Disposal Board (LSRDB) at inception was established in 1977 vide Edict No. 9 of 1977 when it was glaring during Nigeria’s preparation for Festival of Arts and Culture (Festac ’77) that the then two Local Government Councils, namely Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland, could not cope with the volume of waste resulting from the oil-boom stimulated economy and its attendant influence on migrants into the new capital city from the rural and less developed areas of Nigeria and neighboring West African countries.

September 17, 2022
Collection of parking levy is constitutional – LASG

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said the collection of parking levy by its parking agency was empowered by law.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, disclosed this in Ikeja at a news conference to sensitise stakeholders and the public on the mandates and activities of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA).

Oladeinde said that a post was recently circulated on the social media in which LASPA issued a letter signed by its General Manager, levying a Lekki-based company N290,000 for the parking lot outside its premises.

He said that as it was usually the case, especially in a political season, political jobbers and people with limited knowledge on the constitutional mandate of LASPA had tried fruitlessly to exaggerate the issue by playing to the gallery.

According to him, contrary to the erroneous claims of certain individuals and groups, LASPA has the power by law to collect parking levy.

He said that LASPA was created to find lasting solutions to the issues of indiscriminate and illegal parking across the state, adding that this would aid prompt reduction of traffic gridlock experienced by everyone.

The commissioner said that the agency was established, among other things, to promote parking policies, tailored to suit the peculiarity of the state, in line with modern international standards and aimed at achieving a smart city.

He said that LASPA was also empowered to remove all impediments arising from indiscriminate parking on carriageways, thereby increasing the carriageway capacity on the roads, improving the flow of traffic and reducing travel time.

Oladeinde said that the first mandate of the authority was to improve the parking culture, of which its establishment had also enabled employment opportunities for the youths and in doing so, it is expected that revenue generation would come naturally.

According to him, LASPA has the mandate to charge fees on private commercial parks, non-commercial parks and other parking lots on any facility provided by the authority.

“Let me emphasise that most private commercial parks charge Lagosians between N500 to N1,000 parking dues per hour and each person parking at these respective parks can have four stop-overs, which sum up to N2,000 or N4,000 daily.

“At the end of the year, the commercial park owner will realise over N182,500 or N365,000 if charges is per hour or gain a total N730,000 or N1,460,000 for four stop-overs. This is the price most Lagosians pay to commercial park owners.

“LASPA levy of N80,000 divided by the number of days in a year result to N219 only, against the above charges of commercial park owners. The difference is clear as the government is quite considerate and responsive in making the environment conducive for all.

“It is important to restate that being a government that respects the constitution as the sole source of its engagement with the public, the state government will never resort to any unconstitutional means in its dealing with the people,” he said.

He called on residents to cooperate with the agency and other similar stakeholders in carrying out “its laudable mandate”, urging interested and concerned members of the public to visit the agency’s office for necessary information and assistance.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said that the claims that the government would levy people for parking in their private residences was false.

“It is not true, it is an attempt to malign the government by mischievous people. We are not surprise to see things like this because we are in the season of politics.

“When it comes to this kind of matter everybody seems to be an expert, everybody seems to be a lawyer,” Omotoso said.

The General Manager, LASPA, Mrs Adebisi Adelabu, said that the state government was moving to the level where every developer and builder must accommodate park provisions in their building plans before construction.

Adelabu said that the agency has been discussing with religious organisations and businesses on the need to establish parks for their worshippers and customers.

She said that the need to reorder indiscriminate collection of levies for parking was important, so as to channel the funds into infrastructure to solve existing problems.

September 8, 2022
LASG announces traffic diversion, as FG commence repairs along Berger-OPIC axis tomorrow (PHOTO)

Following the Federal Ministry of Works commencement of repairs of damaged expansion joints along the Berger-OPIC axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Saturday, September 3, 2022, traffic will be diverted at the Ogun State bound lane of Kara Bridge.

This was made known in a press statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde.

He explained that three expansion joints along the Expressway would be repaired to prevent accidents and vehicular damage.

Oladeinde gave an assurance that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) to provide adequate diversion and effective traffic management systems during the repair works.

Advising the general public to drive with caution along the route during the period of repairs, the Commissioner emphasised the need for patience and understanding of motorists, just as he promised that interventions will be put in place to minimise traffic congestion.

“Commuters are encouraged to comply with traffic laws and regulations to prevent gridlock and ensure free flow of traffic while the repair works last. Traffic officers will be stationed at strategic locations along the axis to prevent gridlock”, Oladeinde said.

TheNewsGuru.com recalls that on September 2, 2019, the partial closure of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway commenced. The closure became necessary in order for construction work to be carried out in some sections of the expressway.

The construction work included the expansion of the expressway, construction of underpasses, footbridges, flyovers, toll plazas, etc.

Julius Berger PLC was the construction company in charge of the re-construction the Lagos-Sagamu end of the expressway.

The Lagos-Ibadan expressway is Nigeria’s busiest stretch of road. Its partial closure for two months is expected to result in a lot of traumatic experience for thousands of motorists and commuters alike.

See photos below:

September 2, 2022
LASG inaugurates Anti-Okada Squad to collaborate with Police

The Lagos State Government has inaugurated an Anti-Okada Squad to join the Police in enforcing the ban in the six local government areas and highways, major roads and Bridges.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos that the ban was in line with the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.

Oladeinde said the government was set to reinforce the ban on commercial motorcycles in the six LGAs and nine Local Council Development Areas.

The commissioner said at the inaugural ceremony, that the Special Anti-Okada Squad would be reporting to the Police.

Oladeinde urged the citizenry to collaborate with the government to combat their menace.

“It is the responsibility of the public to report any nefarious activities of the squad to the Ministry of Transportation.

” The public can report through the following help/complaint lines: 09038208154, 09034810153, 09033090826 and 09169655855.

“Such reports will help the government generate feedback on strategies for the protection of lives and property.

“Individuals arrested (i.e. riders and passengers) will be made to face the full wrath of the law in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018,” Oladeinde said.

The Commissioner reiterated that motorcycles impounded would be crushed in the public glare.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Kamar Olowoshago, also urged the Anti-Okada personnel to be diligent and honest in the discharge of their duties.

Also at the inauguration was the Commissioner for Housing, Fatai Akinderu, who later presented the completion of training certificates to members of the squad.

June 15, 2022
CONSTRUCTION: Opebi-Ojota Link bridge diversion plan

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has announced a traffic diversion plan for the construction of the Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge inaugurated earlier in the year by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Due to the bridge construction, the traffic diversion will be in two phases, commencing on June 6 and lasting 16 months, Commissioner for Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde said.

He advised residents of Opebi to use Opebi Link Road to access Tunde Osilaja Street to connect Salvation inbound Ajanaku Street and link Opebi Road through Thomas Ajufo, to reach their desired destinations.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that motorists can also use Toyin Street via Mobolaji Bank Anthony to link Opebi/Allen road.

LASG government explained that commuters from Mende Road are equally enjoined to use Ojota Interchange and connect Opebi via Ikorodu Road inwards Aderibigbe.

It would be recalled that Governor Sanwo-Olu, last 5 months, promised that in this year it would be a Season of Consolidation.

In his words: “Also, this year 2022 will witness a milestone achievement in the rail transportation system in our State, as we expect the 37km Red and 27.5km Blue Line Rail projects to commence commercial operations between the last quarter of this year and first quarter of 2023.

“These are just a handful of the projects that will be completed or advanced this year. Indeed, 2022 will witness remarkable development on various fronts: Infrastructure, Technology, Health and Education, Security, and many more; all of which will translate to a significant improvement in the quality of life of all Lagosians.”

Meanwhile, the construction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the Nigerian section of the Trans-West African Coastal Highway that connects Lagos in Nigeria with Dakar in Senegal is reportedly making good progress and well on schedule.

This came to light following a recent site visit by Adedamola Kuti, the Director of Federal Highways in South West, to inspect the amount of work that has been done on section 3 of the expressway, which runs from Agbara to Seme.

June 2, 2022
LASG to prosecute developer of Onike building collapse

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it would press charges of negligence against Mr Gboyega Bello, the developer whose actions caused collapse of building under construction at Onike, Yaba in February.

Mr Mukaila Sanusi, Spokesman for Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said that the Commissioner, Dr Idris Salako, made this known during a review meeting in Alausa on Tuesday.

Five people were killed in the incidence.

Salako said the developer was “culpable for disregarding the due process in building construction in Lagos State”, because he began building without Planning Permit and Authorisation from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

He also blamed Bello, an engineer, for not taking insurance for the building as required by law as well as ignoring contravention, stop-work and seal up notices served by LASBCA.

“The owner of the building obtained Planning Permit well after commencing construction while he also failed to submit the structure for stage-by-stage inspection and certification, being the statutory methodology to ensure that the developer builds right,” he said.

Salako said the developer deceived the regulator by feigning compliance by leaving the construction site only to return secretly to break government seal on the property and continued building.

Salako said LASBCA used its regulatory expertise to get the developer, already in police custody, to provide a letter in which he signed to guarantee quality or pay compensations for error, design fault or omission resulting in any structural failure.

The commissioner said the state government would ensure the case is seen to a logical conclusion to serve as deterrence to all recalcitrant property owners and developers.

He added that government was still looking for the owner of the building who had been identified as one Mr Sodeinde Olumuyiwa Soyode.

March 15, 2022
BREAKING: LASG suspends NURTW activities from parks

The Lagos State Government has suspended the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW) from all parks and garages in the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, made this known in a statement late Thursday.

‘The Lagos State Government has been watching closely events in the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW). There have been claims and counter claims over the control of the union.

‘The Government has a duty to ensure the safety of lives and property of all Lagosians and visitors. Therefore, there is an urgent need to douse the unnecessary tension generated by the leadership tussle in the NURTW and protect the citizenry from the likely fallout of the situation’.

‘After considering the provisions of the law, the Government hereby suspends the activities of NURTW, which must cease to operate in all parks and garages in Lagos State. The Government will set up a Committee to immediately take control of the parks and garages. Members of the committee will be key stakeholders in the sector’.

The Government’s position is premised on its responsibility to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in all parks and garages in Lagos State’.

LAGOS SUSPENDS NURTW FROM PARKS

The Lagos State Government has been watching closely events in the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW). There have been claims and counter claims over the control of the union.@jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat @gbenga_omo #LASG pic.twitter.com/gfV98rkKFc

— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) March 10, 2022

The crisis rocking the Lagos chapter of NURTW had led to the suspension of its chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, by the national body.

March 10, 2022
LASG begins publication of details of convicted sex offenders

The Lagos State Government has begun publishing details of convicted sex offenders as part of measures to check sexual violence and create public awareness of such misdeeds.

Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Executive Secretary of Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) made this known on Thursday in a statement.

The DSVA said the publication of the details of the convicted sex offenders was in keeping with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s zero tolerance to all forms of domestic and sexual violence.

The details to be published would include the name and picture of the sex offender, the nature of the offence as well as the duration of the sentence handed down by the court.

The details of sex convicts would be published periodically on the state government’s website, (www.lagosstate.gov.ng), the website of the Ministry of Justice (https://lagosstatemoj.org) and the website of the DSVA (www.dsvrtlagos.org).

According to Vivour-Adeniyi, these publications are in line with Section 42 of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law which empowers the DSVA to periodically publish details of sex convicts in Lagos.

“Letters of advisory have been issued to local governments and traditional rulers of the communities where the convicts previously resided.

“This measure is one amongst many deployed by the state government to end the culture of impunity and also serve as a deterrence to other sex offenders.

“To report any case of domestic and sexual violence, residents are to call the toll-free number, 08000333333 ,” she said.

The DSVA had begun the process of publishing the names and details of convicted sex offenders in Lagos.

The details of Basiru Obasekere convicted and sentenced on Dec. 2, and Gbenga Olasukanmi convicted and sentenced on Nov. 30, had so far been published.

The duo were each sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Abiola Soladoye of an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court for the offence of defilement.

March 10, 2022