Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, yesterday, said it has perfected plans to clampdown on car dealers that have converted road setbacks, walkways, lay-bys, gardens, and other spaces to car marts.
Chairman of the Agency, Shola Jejeloye, described the action of some motor dealers and transport operators as inconsiderate, therefore jeopardizing the safety, serenity, and aesthetic initiatives of Lagos State government for personal gains.
He said that the illegal actions of these individuals had been going on for a while, but the time has come to put an end to it.
“It is high time we put a stop to this unruly behaviour and environmental impunity of converting every available public space to personal use.
“Walkways, road setbacks, lay-bys were meant and created to cater for pedestrian movement and other public use, but now, you see cars parked on them with kegs placed on them, indicating they are for sale.
“This is totally wrong and we are here to put a final stop to it. Cars for sale should be parked at approved car lots and not by the roadside or walkways, ” Jejeloye stated.
The Task Force boss lamented that indiscriminate use of motor dealers registered number plates is worrisome.
“We have it on good authority that car dealers are now fond of using one registered number plate for private use simply to evade other vehicle particulars.
“Some unscrupulous elements in the society use car dealer number plates to perpetrate criminal acts in the state, which they believe would not be traced to them as the vehicle used during the criminal act could be different from the vehicle it would be placed on the following day,” he added.
Jejeloye warned car dealers, who are still in the habit of parking their vehicles for sale on the walkways, to either move them to proper car lots or have them impounded and their owners made to face the full wrath of the law.
He urged residents to report any infractions by car dealers to the agency through the dedicated lines or social media handles for prompt actions.
