LAGESC Warns NURTW, RTEAN  Members Over Attack On Operatives

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has warned hoodlums, particularly members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), who are in the habit of attacking its operatives during enforcement operations to desist from the heinous acts.

Speaking aftermath a recent incident, the Corps Marshal of the Agency, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd) stated that these acts will no longer be tolerated by the State Government as the operatives are on official duties to rid the environment of illegal street traders and hawkers, who occupy the walkways, road setbacks and medians of major highways across the State.

According to her, “There was a recent attack allegedly unleashed on some of our operatives by some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) opposite Cathedral Church, CMS, Lagos Island, when the Special Squad of the Agency was about to dislodge some street hawkers along this axis. This resulted in some personnel sustaining injuries and were immediately moved to the General Hospital, Lagos Island for urgent medical treatment”.

Mrs. Akinpelu revealed that there have been several such attacks perpetrated by hoodlums and agberos on personnel during routine operations of dislodging street traders and hawkers occupying medians, walkways and road setbacks created for pedestrians.

The Corps Marshal explained that the enforcement exercise is in line with the directives of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu that all the roads in the State be rid of any form of an impediment for free flow of traffic, as well as safety of all, as walkways are meant for pedestrians and not for trading activities.

She also pointed out that people should go into State-approved markets to engage in trading activities instead of hawking on the streets, declaring that anybody found engaging in any act of lawlessness by indulging in such illegal act or attacking government operatives will be made to face the full wrath of the law.