TRAGEDY STRIKES IKOTUN: TEENAGER DIES AS TRADERS, COMMUTERS POINT FINGERS AT OFFICIALS
By Olayiwola Ibrahim // The perennial traffic congestion in Ikotun has become a source of frustration for commuters and traders alike.
In a bid to ease the traffic, the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences recently carried out an operation to clear the roads of traders and hawkers.
However, traders and commuters have pointed fingers at officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA, police traffic wardens, and local council officials, Oba of Ikotun, Baba Oja, Iya Oloja, and the Akinrogun of Ikotun land for allegedly contributing to the traffic congestion.
According to traders, they are forced to sell on the roadside due to the high cost of renting shops in the market.
They alleged that officials from the local council, as well as the Oba of Ikotun, collect money from them to sell on the roadside.
We are not happy selling on the roadside, but we have no choice, said one trader, who preferred to remain anonymous.
The rent for shops in the market is too high, and the officials collect money from us to sell on the roadside.
Commuters also alleged that LASTMA officials and police traffic wardens extort money from drivers, which contributes to the traffic congestion.
The LASTMA officials and police traffic wardens are always stopping drivers and collecting money from them, said a commuter, who also preferred to remain anonymous.
This causes a lot of traffic congestion, as drivers are forced to stop and negotiate with the officials.
When contacted, officials from LASTMA and the local council denied the allegations, stating that they are working to ease the traffic congestion in Ikotun.
The Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences has vowed to continue its operation to clear the roads of traders and hawkers, and to work with other agencies to ease the traffic congestion in Ikotun.
As the situation continues to unfold, commuters and traders alike are calling for a more permanent solution to the traffic congestion in Ikotun.
Unfortunately, during the Enforcement Operation, tear gas fired by the Taskforce Team, resulted to the dealt of a boy being the only son of the family after the operation.
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