Lagos taskforce impounds 70 commercial motorcycles

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force) has intensified enforcement against illegal motorcycle operators violating traffic, environmental, and security regulations.

The chairman of the unit, CSP Adetayo Akerele, confirmed this in a statement signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, on Tuesday.

Mr Akerele said the agency conducted another round of its clean-up enforcement exercise on Tuesday.

“The latest clean-up exercise was conducted today at the Iyana-Iba axis. This follows a similar operation last weekend as part of the task force’s sustained effort to curb the menace posed by unregulated ‘okada’ (motorcycle) activities.

“Operations covered key locations along the Lagos-Mile 2-Badagry Expressway, including Festac-Firstgate, Mazamaza, and Iyana-Iba.

“During the exercise, some motorcycle operators were found using restricted routes, obstructing traffic, and transporting illicit drugs and flammable substances such as premium motor spirit (PMS) to neighbouring areas,” he said.

The task force’s boss said that at the conclusion of the exercise, 70 commercial motorcycles were impounded, restoring order and traffic flow across affected areas.

The chairman stated that all confiscated motorcycles would be forfeited to the state through the courts in accordance with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustained enforcement.

“We will not be cowed or surrender to their illegalities. Our operations will continue until full compliance is achieved,” the task force’s boss said.

He warned that illegal okada operations and related criminal activities would no longer be tolerated in the state.