Etim Ekpimah
The Lagos State government has given communities with unapproved street gates seven days ultimatum to remove them to allow for free flow of traffic.
The state also advised that in the event of the communities not willing to remove the gates, such gates must be open between 5 a.m and midnight or have them dismantled.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, who issued the notice on Friday, explained that the gates and structures installed without prior approval from the Ministry of Transportation contravene the provisions of the State Traffic Laws and Regulations, adding that they must be removed within seven days from the date of the notice.
According to him, the Ministry, in conjunction with Local Government and Community Affairs, has the regulatory authority on the installation of gates towards enhancing Traffic Management on the inner roads while protecting the lives and property of the affected communities.
He said: “During the recent inspection exercise conducted by the officials of the Ministry of Transportation, it was discovered that some communities have sited gates on some inner roads to avoid vehicular movement on their streets, and this unruly act has contributed to the heavy traffic congestion currently being experienced on our roads on daily basis.”
Oladeinde noted that all street gates across the state be opened between 5 am to 12 midnight, adding that the gates must be manned by security personnel engaged by the community or residents’ association and must be opened for emergency services such as police, ambulance and fire services at any time.
He stated that the Special Committee set up by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation on demolition of gated streets has begun enforcement exercise on the removal of gates in locations that failed to comply with the government’s directive on ‘Gated Streets’ regulation.
Oladeinde, therefore, urged communities with Government approval for installation of gates on their streets to come forward with their documents for onward review and necessary approvals, failure of which the Special Committee would have to remove such street gates.