Gridlock: Lagos threatens shutdown of religious, event centres  

Lagos State government has cautioned operators of event centres, property owners, religious centres and other places of attraction to desist from compounding traffic gridlock on roads around their locations.

Commissioner for transportation, Frederic Oladeinde, said the warning became necessary because owners of event centres and places of attraction have been discovered to a major role in the endemic traffic congestion in the state.

The commissioner specifically cited the Lekki-Expressway where man-hours are daily lost owing to the blockage occasioned by activities of the event centres.

‘’Henceforth, any social event where the number of expected visitors exceeds 50, organisers of such event must notify the general manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in advance, especially, if it is perceived that their property would not accommodate large numbers of vehicles that may be brought by their guests.

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“The LASTMA authority will be on hand to advise them on what to do rather than allowing their visitors to block roads as this will attract stiffer penalties if caught.

“The state government will no longer condone parking of vehicles on the roadside, failure of the operators/ property owners to make provision for adequate parking space for their guests,” Oladeinde said, adding that it was regrettable that innocent citizens going about their lawful duties were being forced to share in the pains caused by merrymakers.

Oladeinde warned that any commercial event centre, place of worship, night club/lounge, or private property owners caught on account of illegal blockage of roads by their attendants would be closed until their owners paid the stipulated fines. Also, vehicles towed for infraction or unlawful parking offences, he stressed, would not be released until the corresponding amount is paid.

“Many of these event centres and churches do not have enough spaces for their visitors especially on Lekki/ Epe expressway, most often; public roads are used for their parking. He charged the event centre owners to operate within the ambit of the law. Oladeinde warned that the state government would not hesitate to apply the law on any erring event centre or private property owner whose attendants blocked the road on account of inadequate parking space.