The Nigeria Police Force has warned motorists to obey traffic rules in Apapa despite the gridlock and poor state of roads in the area or risk prosecution.
This warning is coming on the heels of a report that some traffic wardens and officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) have relaxed traffic rules and regulations in Apapa due to the deplorable state of roads leading into and out of the port city.
But Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said anyone found breaking the State traffic law will be arrested and prosecuted.
He said, “We understand that there is traffic. But that does not mean motorists should commit traffic offence such as passing one-way, driving against traffic, hit and run or driving without proper driver’s licence. The State and the Federal Government including the Local Government are doing their best to ease the gridlock in that part of the State.”
To show its seriousness in maintaining law and order in Apapa despite the chaos on the road, the Police on Friday arraigned four truck drivers at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly driving in the opposite direction against traffic.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Olusegun Kokoye told the court that Abiodun Emmanuel, 40, Tunde Kilani Quadri, 29, Labaran Salihu, 27 and Umar Jelili, 27 committed the offence on October 26, 2017 at about 8:30am along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
Kokoye said each of the truck drivers drove their trucks on the public highway in an opposite direction against the traffic from Mile 2 to Coconut.
Emmanuel, Quadri, Salihu and Jelili drove Mack truck with registration number FST 548 XN, Mack truck with registration number XP 915 FKJ, DAF truck with registration number JJJ 940 XB and Mercedes Benz truck with registration number ACA 405 XA respectively.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Lagos State Traffic Laws Vol. 45, Laws of Lagos State Official Gazette 2012.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge brought against them.
In his ruling, Magistrate Abiodun Etti granted each defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety.
He adjourned the case till December 7, 2017 for mention.