By Yemi Adeleye
Lagos – The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Central Business Districts (CBD) Mr Victor Akande, has warned residents to adhere to laws and regulations guiding commercial and business activities in the state.
Akande gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
The lawmaker, representing Ojo Constituency I in the Assembly, frowned at the deliberate refusal of some residents to comply with the CBD guidelines enacted for a better society.
“The doggedness of the state government toward sanitising the environment is not in doubt.
“It is imperative for residents, especially commercial vendors and people who operate businesses under bridges, roadsides and walkways, to abide by the rules and laws guiding CBD.
“The government has not failed to warn vendors not to extend their trade, shops, kiosks or goods to the roads. It is good we join hands with the government to ensure orderliness.
“The CBD Task Force is there to maintain law and order, to checkmate the people’s excesses. Often, the people deliberately violate the law.
“It is so frustrating now that when the task force sends people breaching the law away, immediately they are back to the same place for business activities.
“It is apt that the CBD task force swings into action in making sure that there is law and order around CBDs,” Akande said.
The lawmaker proposed that the fines to regain seized goods should be increased to discourage the people from violating rules.
Akande, a lawyer, urged the CBD task force to continue to enforce regulations, commending the enforcement carried out recently in Lagos Island.
He said that spreading goods on the roads had been impeding free flow of traffic in CBDs, and if care was not taken, the situation could knock down the entire area with gridlock.
The lawmaker said that the Assembly would continue to give Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode the required support in his bid to sanitise the state and deal with illegalities.
According to him, the state government is committed to making the state reach a full mega-city status, hence laws and orderliness must be maintained.
Akande said regulations were to further ease the task of doing business as well as eradicate street trading with its attendant hazards.
The lawmaker said the Lagos State Government had provided an alternative to selling on the streets and walkways in CBDs by introducing corner shops in strategic locations. (NAN)
