The Lagos State Government, through its Safety Commission, has commenced physical verification and issuance of safety compliance certificates to social clubs and centres in the State.
Speaking on the exercise, the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, commended the level of compliance with stipulated safety guidelines by most of the clubs visited, adding that it is vital to ensure that all issued directives, especially on physical distancing and proper hygiene, are fully embraced by these facilities.
He declared that the Commission has started issuing provisional Safety Compliance Certificates to some social clubs that have registered and had their locations verified, urging business owners who are yet to comply with the ‘Register-to-Open’ policy to do so.
“It will be in the best interest of all Social, Event and Betting Centres, Bars, Night Clubs, Gaming Arcades, Casinos and all the businesses captured under the ‘Register-to-Open’ initiative to do so in earnest, in order to allow the verification process to take place,” Mojola said.
The Director-General, however, sounded a note of warning that centres, whose registration and verification have been completed, are NOT allowed to open until an announcement is made by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the effective date for opening social centres.
While maintaining that the only way to flatten the curve of COVID-19 pandemic in the State is through collective efforts with all stakeholders, Mojola enjoined all business owners in Lagos to cooperate with the State Government in ensuring that all safety guidelines are strictly adhered to.
Some of the social clubs/centres already visited by the Safety Commission team included Ikoyi Club, Lagos Motor Boat Club, Lagos Polo Club, Ikeja Country Club, Lagos Jetski Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Yoruba Tennis Club and Ikeja Golf Club, amongst others.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olajide Oduyoye has condemned the resurgence of a previously debunked online news alleging that LASTMA officials were banned from arresting motorists who flout the Lagos State Traffic Law.
Oduyoye explained that the false report, which was earlier circulated online by an Auto Repair Company in February, 2020, had been refuted by LASTMA.
While warning Lagosians, especially motorists, to be wary of online reports aimed at causing chaos and mischief, Oduyoye wondered why some individuals choose to mislead others to contravene the traffic laws of the State as amended by the State House of Assembly in 2018.
He noted that part of the Agency’s responsibility is to uphold and enforce the traffic laws of the State, maintaining that the officers and men of LASTMA will not hesitate to enforce those laws, whenever violated, in order to transform the State’s transportation system, ensure the free flow of traffic and reduce road accidents.
The General Manager, therefore, advised the motoring public to ignore and disregard all fake news circulated by faceless individuals and designed to lead them into breaking the traffic laws of the State.
