This was disclosed in a statement made available to PUNCH Online by the Public Relations Officer, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the government’s will to create a safe and secure environment is seriously threatened by those who act against the street-gate laws.
Taofiq quoted the agency’s acting General Manager, Bakare Oki, as saying that the policy street gates were designed to make it simple for residents and other road users in the State to access them.
He added that the state government finds it completely unacceptable when drivers and pedestrians are prevented from using the various community gates before the designated time.
He stressed that illegally closing these gates also supports the actions of criminals who take pleasure in depriving residents of their possessions, making it more challenging for law enforcement to rescue victims or catch offenders.
Taofiq noted that the impacted community’s activities have further complicated the free flow of vehicles in such locations, where the public’s ability to drive to the locked gates was constrained.
The statement partly reads, “Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) over the weekend warned Landlords and various Community Development Associations (C.D.As) to immediately comply with government regulations directing that all interlink roads must be accessible on daily basis across the State.
“The General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Bakare Oki Olalekan disclosed that those acting contrary to Street -Gate regulations were posing a great security threat to the government’s resolve to achieve a safe and secured environment. They are advised to desist from the unwholesome acts.
“Mr. Bakare Oki disclosed further that the policy street gates was meant to enable easy access for residents and all road users in the State, noting that the act of denying motorists and pedestrians access through the various community gates before the stipulated time is totally unacceptable to the State Government.
“Traffic Officers have been facing serious challenges in diverting motorists to alternative routes through nearby streets because these streets are gated”
“The General Manager stressed that the illegal closure of these gates, some of which are feeder roads to connect highways, also contributes to the activities of criminally-minded individuals who indulge in dispossessing residents of their belongings, thereby making it difficult for security agencies come to the rescue of victims or apprehend the perpetrators.
“The act of partial or permanent closure of gates in violation of the regulations of the State affects businesses encourages miscreants to take advantage of residents and get away with their belongings and in case of fire outbreak the community affected will not be easily accessible by the Rescue teams”.
“Mr. Bakare Oki stated that non-conformity with Government directives on the closure of Estate/Street gates might lead to issuing warrant of arrest and prosecution of representatives of non-complying communities,where necessary.
“He added that activities of these affected communities had further made free vehicular movement difficult in those restricted areas where roads leading to the closed gates were inaccessible to the motoring public.”
