Lagos to prosecute residents hosting events on public roads

Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab

The Lagos State Task Force has issued a note of warning to residents of the state who are in the habit of hosting events on public roads thereby causing inconvenience to road users.

This is as the agency said it would prosecute violators who may be disregarding established state laws that ban road parties.

The warning is coming barely 10 days after five people were arrested along the Raymond Njoku Road in the Ikoyi area of the state for blocking the road to host a birthday party.

The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, shared details of the arrest on his X page last Monday.

According to Wahab, the arrested offenders were Omolara Ajetumobi; Event Planner, Ogundare Olubunmi; Celebrant, Ayodele Busuyi; musician, Owoeye Adedayo; sound engineer and Akinola Akinkunmi; vendor, were on Saturday, October 19, 2024, the Lagos State Government arrested individuals, including the celebrant, event planner, musician, and others, for obstructing traffic and creating an environmental nuisance.

Wahab continued, “The suspects were arrested for blocking Raymond Njoku Road in Southwest Ikoyi during a birthday celebration. They will be tried in court in accordance with the laws of the State. The Lagos State Government reiterates that no one is above the law and will not be permitted to disregard state regulations.”

Emphasising the state’s intolerance for hosting parties on roads, the spokesperson for the Lagos Taskforce, Raheem Gbadeyan, in a statement on Tuesday, noted that offenders and violators would be prosecuted.

While quoting the agency’s Chairman, Adetayo Akerele, Gbadeyan noted that the practice had called for concerns following its growing trends in recent times.

He stressed that hosting events such as “social gatherings, and religious events, causes inconvenience to other residents and motorists. Committed to maintaining environmental decorum and ensuring smooth traffic flow across the state, the Lagos State Task Force has condemned this practice entirely.”

Akerele continued, “It is unacceptable for any individual or group to hijack public spaces, especially roads meant for the free movement of people and vehicles, for their selfish interests.

“We are also aware of similar events on streets like Lawani Street in Yaba, Ganiyu Lamina Street at Ijaye Ojokoro, and other locations across the Lagos Metropolis. We are appealing to those involved in this practice to desist forthwith or face serious legal consequences.”

The chairman further emphasised that the agency would not tolerate acts that compromise environmental and public safety or inconvenience road users while urging residents of the state to adopt the use of designated event centres for their events.

“The Lagos State Task Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, will conduct routine monitoring and swift enforcement to prevent further disruption of roads and inner streets. Residents are encouraged to report any road obstructions through the Taskforce’s ‘See Something, Say Something’ initiative to ensure prompt intervention,” Gbadeyan concluded.”