Taskforce vows tougher enforcement against Lagos road violators

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, popularly known as the Taskforce, has vowed to intensify enforcement against road users and activities that obstruct public roads and threaten public safety in the state.

The Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, disclosed this on Wednesday at the agency’s 2026 Stakeholders’ Engagement Programme held at the Safety Arena, Bolade-Oshodi, Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, “Promoting Public Safety and Environmental Best Practices in Lagos State,” Akerele said the agency would intensify lawful enforcement against commercial motorcycle operators using restricted routes, street obstructions, illegal roadside mechanics, illegal ticketing and unauthorised use of restricted Bus Rapid Transit corridors.

He added that the enforcement would also target environmental sanitation violations, miscreants, and other activities that could threaten public safety.

Akerele said the objective of the agency was not merely to arrest and prosecute offenders but to promote compliance with the laws of Lagos State.

He said, “As we move forward, the taskforce will continue to intensify lawful enforcement against Okada operations on restricted routes, environmental sanitation violations, illegal activities, street obstructions, miscreants and other conduct that threatens public safety.

“However, enforcement must go hand in hand with education, sensitisation and engagement.”

The chairman said public safety went beyond crime prevention, noting that blocked drainages, indiscriminate waste disposal, illegal structures, street trading, reckless use of public roads, shanties and unregulated industrial activities could create conditions that threaten the safety and wellbeing of residents.

He urged residents and stakeholders to understand and comply with the environmental laws of the state, particularly the Environmental Reform Law, as amended.

Akerele said the taskforce, established in 1991 primarily to address poor sanitary conditions, indiscriminate settlements, slums and shanties, had expanded its responsibilities over the years in response to the changing realities of Lagos.

He said the agency’s current mandate included enforcement against environmental violations, illegal roadside mechanics, illegal ticketing, activities obstructing public roads and unauthorised use of restricted BRT corridors in collaboration with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.

The chairman said the stakeholder engagements conducted across the five divisions of the state earlier in the year had enabled the agency to receive feedback from communities and review aspects of its operations and standard operating procedures.

He called on residents to report environmental violations and impostors pretending to be task force officials.

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Akerele also urged members of the public to report anyone demanding money or offering illegal immunity in the name of the agency.

“Government cannot be everywhere at every time, and enforcement officers cannot monitor every street and community simultaneously. Responsible citizens therefore have a critical role to play,” he said.

The chairman said the agency needed information, constructive criticism and partnership from residents and other stakeholders to improve public safety and environmental management in the state.

He added that achieving a safer and cleaner Lagos required the collective commitment of government agencies, security organisations, traditional institutions, community leaders, professional bodies, businesses, residents and the media.

Also speaking at the event, the State Confidential Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Council, Omowunmi Aliu, said transport workers had been complying with the state government’s environmental sanitation directives.

Aliu said the union had taken steps to ensure that commercial vehicles did not leave motor parks during the monthly environmental sanitation period before the restriction was lifted.

She said, “We have been complying. Being law-abiding citizens, NURTW is a very law-abiding organisation. Concerning this environmental problem, we are complying.”

Aliu added that the union had constituted committees to monitor compliance among its members and ensure that commercial vehicles remained in their garages during the sanitation exercise.

Aliu urged the task force to pay greater attention to the problem, saying it also affected transport operators.

She also appealed to the Lagos State Government to provide more motor parks and garages to address the shortage of designated spaces for commercial transport operators.

“I will use this medium to plead with the state government to please create more motor parks, more garages. Even if they come beautiful, let us give us space,” she said.

Aliu said adequate provision of motor parks would also make it easier for authorities to provide public toilets and other facilities while ensuring that transport operations were properly organised.