The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) has reinforced its mandate to keep highways safe and public spaces orderly by impounding 309 commercial motorcycles found operating illegally along the ECOWAS Road corridor and clearing the Alaba Rago axis of environmental obstructions.
Gbade Abdulraheem, Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Taskforce, said the operation — planned by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and executed with support from the Lagos State Police Command — aligns with the Lagos State Government’s directives banning commercial motorcycles on highways and restricted routes.
Abdulraheem added that the enforcement action forms part of broader measures to strengthen the State’s security architecture and to deny criminal elements cover for illegal activities.
The effort supports the THEMES Plus Agenda and complements the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani’s work to address emerging security threats such as kidnapping and banditry.
The exercise targeted key locations along the ECOWAS Road corridor, including Orile-Iganmu Bus Stop, Suuru-Alaba Bus Stop, Mile 2 Underbridge, Mazamaza Bus Stop, Festac First Gate, Iyana-Ira, Abule-Ado, Alakija Bus Stop, Iyana-Iba, Alaba Rago, Old Ojo Road and Okoko Bus Stop.
In addition to impounding 309 motorcycles, enforcement teams dismantled and removed illegal kiosks, makeshift stalls, abandoned household items, unapproved plank structures, indiscriminately displayed building materials, domestic animals obstructing public spaces and other impediments to traffic and environmental compliance. Officials said these actions improved traffic flow and restored order across the affected areas.
The Taskforce confirmed that the impounded motorcycles will be processed for forfeiture to the Lagos State Government through the courts under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, and pledged to sustain enforcement operations until full compliance with existing laws is achieved.
CSP Adetayo Akerele, Chairman of the Agency, described the corridor’s lawlessness and indiscriminate development as alarming, blaming illegal ticketing, street trading and recalcitrant commercial motorcycle operators for fostering criminality, congestion and environmental degradation.
“No stone will be left unturned in our determination to restore sanity. It is high time criminal elements operating in Lagos State either desist from these unlawful activities or relocate. We will continue to enforce the law without fear or favour in order to guarantee a safer, cleaner and more orderly Lagos for everyone,” Akerele said.
