- Safiu Kehinde
Lagos State government has revealed plan to demolish illegal street gates across the state over obstruction of traffic flow.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi.
The Commissioner in the statement expressed concern over the surge in installation of unauthorized gates, especially in Lekki axis.
While stressing on its implication on free flow traffic in the state, Osiyemi maintained that the government is taking firm stance on the development.
As highlighted in the statement, Osiyemi reveals plan to demolish unauthorized street gates and barriers while giving guidelines for the operation of authorized gates.
According to him, gates or barriers on public roads or streets must remain fully open for public use between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM daily, with Community Development Associations (CDA) engaging the service of security operatives in manning the gates.
Osiyemi, however, urged residents and CDAs to comply with the regulations or face risk of penalities.
The statement read in part; “The Ministry of Transportation has observed a surge in the installation of unauthorized gates, particularly in the Lekki axis.
“Many of these gates were erected without the necessary approvals from the Ministry, while some approved gates are being mismanaged as residents fail to adhere to the established guidelines for gated streets in Lagos State.
“This non-compliance poses significant challenges to traffic flow, emergency response access, and overall public safety.
“As such, the Ministry is taking a firm stance to address this issue and wishes to reiterate the following in line with the Lagos State Government’s policy and regulations:
“All gates and barriers installed without prior authorization from the Lagos State Government are illegal and will be removed.
“Any unauthorized gate or barrier must be dismantled within seven (7) days of this announcement. Failure to comply will result in enforcement actions, including removal and penalties, in line with existing regulations.
“For gates and barriers with prior approval, compliance with the following guidelines is mandatory.
“Gates or barriers on public roads or streets must remain fully open for public use between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM daily, to ensure interconnection and the free flow of traffic across the State.
“All approved gates or barriers must be manned by security personnel 10:00 engaged by the Community Development Associations (CDAs). However, between and 5:00 AM, these gates or barriers mag remain closed but must be opened promptly in the event of an emergency to allow free access and exit for first responders.
“The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi urges all residents and CDAs to strictly comply with these guidelines to foster a safe efficient, and connected transportation network across the State.
“Failure to adhere to these guidelines will incur punitive measures against non-compliant CDAs, including fines and further enforcement actions from the State Government.
“All residents in gated streets or areas with barriers are encouraged to ensure compliance with these regulations to maintain a safe and accessible transportation network across the State.”