The Ogun State Government has warned truck and articulated vehicle drivers to stop parking their vehicles on the roadside, especially around the Ogere area of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The government said this causes traffic problems and endangers lives.
The warning was given by the Acting Corps Commander of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Mr Elias Omonayajo, during a meeting with stakeholders at the Ogere TRACE office.
Omonayajo said many truck drivers park along major roads, blocking traffic and causing accidents. He warned that roadside parking is illegal and puts other road users at risk. He added that the safety of lives and property must come first.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, AIG Shola Subair (rtd), and the Governor’s Security Consultant, CP Edward Ajogun (rtd), said the government is unhappy with the careless parking of trucks and the blocking of highways. They called for a task force to enforce traffic laws and punish offenders. They also urged drivers to cooperate with TRACE to reduce accidents and ensure smooth traffic flow.
The Seriki Awusawa of Ogere, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, thanked the state government and promised to help ensure that drivers obey traffic rules and use approved parking areas. However, he appealed to the government to repair the truck parks to make them easier for drivers to use.
Earlier, the Onimeji of Imeji Kingdom, Oba Babatunde, represented by Chief Bunkuola Sonubi, and Mr Adenuga Ridwan of Dangote Sugar, said solving the problem of illegal parking and road blockage requires everyone’s cooperation.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun, the Police, transport unions, manufacturing companies, and community leaders.
