The Lagos State Government has vowed to clamp down on unauthorised enforcement agents purportedly acting on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation tagged M.O.T TASKFORCE.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, made the pledge as he handed over an impostor caught with illegal documents and impersonating an enforcement agent to the Police.

Giwa, who noted that his Office has been assailed with information about the activities of these unauthorised operators, added that the State Government will no longer warn but clamp down on the illegal activities of these dubious operators.

“Lagos is a State governed by laws. The Transportation Sector is regulated by the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018 and does not permit charlatans to operate illegally in any part of the State. My office will continue to go on sting operations and unplanned visits to different areas so as to catch these fake operators, their collaborators and sponsors in the act”, he said.

Giwa enjoined the public to report the activities of any unauthorised enforcement team to the Ministry of Transportation so that it can be forwarded to the Police for possible prosecution.

Recall that on August 11, 2022, the Ministry of Transportation placed an indefinite ban on the activities of its enforcement team, tagged M.O.T TASKFORCE, as part of measures to streamline transport operations in Lagos State for better effectiveness.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Transportation, it disclosed that the construction works by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing will replace the worn-out elastomeric bearing, and expand the metallic joints on the bridge. Other repair works include; construction of drain gully, jacketing, skin repairs of the piers and laying of asphalt.

The repair works which will take a duration of 20 weeks would be done in two faces to ease traffic movements.

The first half of the construction works will last for the first 10 weeks, thereafter, the second half would commence equally and last for 10 weeks.

The closure has been slated between 8.00 pm and 8.00 am daily to ensure there is a smooth and uninterrupted flow of the repair works.

Meanwhile, road users are advised to comply with the traffic diversions to minimize inconveniences in movements, as they will be allowed to ply only the available sides of the roads while the construction works lasts.

The statement added that the State Government is appealing to residents of the State, especially motorists that ply these corridors to bear the pains, as the project is executed for their safety and seamless movements that will meet the transportation needs of the larger populace.

According to the statement signed by the Hon. Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde on Monday, 23rd March 2020., it outlined guidelines that must be adhered to by all public transport operators:

COVID 19: Public transport preventive measures guidelines to curb further spread of coronavirus in buses, cabs, motor parks and garages.

As part of the efforts by the Lagos State Government to further prevent a State- widespread of COVID-19 especially in motor parks, garages, and another public transportation-related environment, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation is hereby notifying the general public through this statement that the following guidelines are henceforth compulsory for all stakeholders in public transportation in the State to comply with:

1. All Transport Operators/Companies are expected to sanitize their parks and garages regularly and continuously (at least before and after each trip)

2. All Transport Operators/Companies are expected to have at the entrance to their respective parks/garages, washing hand equipment with soap and running water.
3. All Operators are expected to have alcohol-based sanitizers in their Vehicles for the use of Drivers, Conductors and Passengers
4. All Operators are not allowed to overcrowd/overload their vehicles at this point in time, Passenger’s spacing must be fully observed. NCDC recommends that at least 2m (5feet) distance is required between anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness.
5. No standing in all BRT and LBSL bus operations

6. All buses should be at 60% capacity and not 100% (i.e danfo and other commercial buses)

7. All Air Conditioning System in public transport be put off

8. All public transport Operators/Company must have a temperature reader to test each passenger before boarding the bus

9. All drivers and conductors should always wear hand gloves and nose guides while in transit

10. All passengers are also required to sanitize themselves before and after each trip

11. Passengers are also required to regularly wash their hands with soap and running water before and after each trip

12. Operators/Companies and passengers are expected to report any suspected case of COVID-19 to the Ministry of Transportation or call 08000CORONA

13. Passenger are also expected to report any Operator/Company that does not comply with these guidelines to the Monitoring Officer at sight or write to the Ministry, stating the Vehicle Registration Number, Park and Time.

With this directive well disseminated to you our transport Stakeholders and the men of the realms of the fourth estate, we are confident that together we can put off this ranging fire of COVID-19.

Together we can stop further spread of the virus in Lagos State and Nigeria.

I thank you for listening and God bless.

Mr Mohammad Idris, The Head of Press Unit, Ministry of Transportation, Abuja, , made this known while speaking with the press, in Aba on Monday.

Idris was reacting to the road blocks mounted by staff of State’s Passenger Integrated Manifest Scheme(ASPIM) for the purpose of collecting revenue.

He directed his call to the security agencies, to make a move toward clearing the federal highway of such revenue collectors using the highway for money making.

Idris noted that this practice has a way of disturbing the free flow of traffic on affected roads and also affect travelers moving through the state with men collecting revenue on the road.

“The police and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) should not allow these agents to block the highways.

“This is because their operations on the highways are illegal and obstruct the movement of travelers across the country.

“The former Inspector General of Police told them that the action was wrong, illegal and so he banned it but unfortunately some states still do that. But it is wrong.

“They have been told not to operate on the highways. Nobody has the right to block the highway except in emergency situations by security agencies,” Idris said.