…vows to arrest, prosecute offenders

The Ogun State Police Command has warned motorists and traders found culpable of obstructing traffic through illegal parking and unauthorized display of goods on major highways particularly the Sango Ota and Sagamu axis in the state will be arrested and prosecuted.

The command said that the decision follows efforts to intensify its Operations No Traffic Gridlock” to ensure zero tolerance for road obstruction and on the two axis undergoing construction on both Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway and Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

It mentioned the traffic obstruction activities to include: illegal parking, double parking, indiscriminate stopping on the carriageway, loading and offloading passengers on active lanes, and displaying or selling goods on roads and walkways.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, who confirmed this to newsmen in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, in Abeokuta at the weekend, said that perpetrators would be arrested and charged to court.

Ojajuni said that the conduct was becoming unacceptable, urging motorists, traders, and public transport operators are to desist from such act and comply with traffic regulations to ensure free movement and prevent crashes on the Sango-Ota, Sagamu, Mowe, and axis of roads in the state.

He said that the command had deployed State Motor Traffic Department, Area Traffic Officers and personnel, as well as Divisional Traffic Officers and personnel across strategic locations to ensure strict enforcement, effective traffic management, and sustained clearance of traffic obstruction.

The CP, however, directed motorists to park properly only at designated areas when picking up or dropping off passengers and asked traders to confine their activities within strictly approved market spaces.

He also ordered that all road users to comply with traffic regulations and cooperate with deployed personnel to reduce traffic obstruction and prevent avoidable road crashes on the highway.

The statement reads” The Ogun State Police Command wishes to firmly inform the general public that, in continuation of Operation No Traffic Gridlock within the State, the persistent traffic snare in Sango Ota and Sagamu is primarily caused by the failure of motorists to park properly and the activities of traders who display their goods on the road.”

“This conduct is unacceptable, and motorists, traders, and public transport operators are hereby warned to desist from any form of road obstruction, including illegal parking, double parking, indiscriminate stopping on the carriageway, loading and offloading passengers on active lanes, and displaying or selling goods on roads and walkways.”

“Motorists are directed to park properly only at designated areas when picking up or dropping off passengers, while traders must confine their activities strictly within approved market spaces. All road users are expected to comply with traffic regulations and cooperate with deployed personnel.”

“The Command acknowledges that there is ongoing road construction in Sango Ota and Sagamu by the government, which is aimed at improving infrastructure and enhancing movement in the long term. The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, has directed full enforcement of this operation and warned that offenders will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.” It added.

Ojajuni, therefore, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining order, safety, and free movement of all road users across the State and urged members of the public to support the Police in eliminating traffic gridlock.

He urged members of the public to report any suspicious activities through the Ogun State Police Command emergency lines: Gateway Shield (Toll-Free): 0800 000 9111; 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, and 0708 497 2994.