The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation yesterday cleared the service lane of Ladipo auto spare parts market at Toyota Bus Stop along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

This followed several reports by The Guardian on the activities of individuals who had converted the road into a parking lot and mechanic workshop.

During the operation, the Removal of Abandoned Vehicles and Park Monitoring Committees, a unit of the ministry, towed no fewer than 10 vehicles.

The Lagos State Government had reconstituted and inaugurated the committees last year as part of efforts to enhance traffic flow and ensure orderliness in motor parks across the state.

A leader of the team, Adegoke Wakili Sunmonu, lamented that despite warnings and awareness campaigns, those operating on the road have remained defiant.

He said: “The Chairman of Removal of Abandoned Vehicles and Park Monitoring Committees, Hassan Waheed Alani, has given the marching order for Lagos roads to be cleared of illegal parking and abandoned vehicles. We are trying our best to clear Ladipo Road, but mechanics working on the road are not giving us peace of mind.

“The Special Adviser to the Government on Transportation, Sola Giwa, has been here several times, and the Permanent Secretary of the ministry has also visited. I always come here to ensure a free flow of traffic, but they continue to mess up the road.

“They have converted the road into a mechanic workshop, which the Ministry of Transportation doesn’t allow. They also turn the road into a park-and-pay space. We will not allow the mechanics to turn this road into a workshop.

“They always return to the road after our exercise, but they must comply by force because we won’t stop enforcement.”OPERATIVES of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft have intercepted 72 bags of Cannabis sativa, each weighing 40kg, along the Elegushi area of Lekki, Lagos State.

The Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo, while briefing reporters, yesterday, said the contrabands were intercepted on June 5.

He said the arrest was made possible through the effort of the Base at gathering actionable intelligence and maintaining a presence in Lagos waterways, under the tenets of Operation Water Guard.

Oladejo explained that the effort was sequel to the strategic directive by Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to maintain credible presence along Lagos waterways and adjoining creeks, to rid the maritime environment of all forms of crime and criminality.

He warned peddlers of illicit drugs to desist because NNS Beecroft would not rest on its oars in pursuing all criminal elements in its area of operation.

He added: “This successful arrest of a large quantity of Cannabis sativa underscores the unwavering commitment of NNS Beecroft to curtailing the spread and use of illicit drugs among youths, a development that negatively affects their health and threatens national security.”

The exhibits were handed over to officials of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Marine Command on Tuesday for further investigation.