Lagos Calls Federal Agencies To Order Over ‘llegal’ Task Force, Road Paintings

• Fashola Writes Jonathan, Considers Legal Actions

NOTWITHSTANDING the political atmosphere in the country, the Lagos State government has called on federal agencies to respect provisions of the law in carrying out their activities in the state.

  The call was made Friday, on the heels of recent development and attendant confusion with the deployment of “faceless” Federal Task Force to Lagos roads. Also for complaint is the use of national colours on road kerbs and illegal placements of political adverts – all done without recourse to existing laws in the state.

  State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, at a State Executive Council briefing on Friday, said the developments were flagrant disregard for rules and regulations guiding the society and call for concern.

  Ipaye noted that two days ago (Thursday), unknown men in black uniform, under the aegis of Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme/ Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (SURE-P/FERMA) task force, forcefully took over the control of traffic on the old tollgate section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Aided by four armed policemen, the task force intimidated officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to vacate the axis, to avoid yet another clash.

  Ipaye said further that Fashola had reported the matter to President Jonathan, but he was yet to get a reply as at the time of the briefing.

  The commissioner noted that everyone is aware of the political sensitivity of the moment, but it allows for no disregard of the law.

  “Should we say because of the politics of the period, we neglect rules guiding our roads? Or that our code for painting our road kerbs suddenly change? Or that advertisement will become free for all because we are in political season? he queried.

  In similar vein, the State had also noticed the painting of road kerbs in the green-white-green national colours, contrary to the international global best practices and national highway code of white and black colours, for visibility and road users.

  Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa noted that the development had put the lives of motoring Lagos public at risk.

   Managing Director of the Lagos State Advertisement Agency (LASAA), George Noah, added that the agency, in a matter of days, would be filling law suits to challenge indiscriminate placements of political placements without recourse for established rules and norms guiding outdoor advertisements.