Residents knock Lagos commercial drivers over indiscriminate park

Residents and motorists plying Bolade Road in the Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State have bemoaned the traffic jam being caused by the indiscriminate parking of commercial buses on the road connecting Ilupeju and Mushin.

Our correspondent who visited the area on Tuesday noticed how the commercial vehicles were obstructing the road.

A motorist, Musa Aliyu, regretted that the commercial drivers abandon bus stops and park indiscriminately on the road.

Aliyu said “Drivers of these yellow buses are annoying. The bus stops are there but still, they pick up passengers on the road.

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 “The most annoying thing is that they feel no one can control them. To be honest, I do not blame them alone, I also blame officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority who are always on duty in this area but cannot caution them.”

 Another motorist who identified himself as Ayobami said, “These commercial buses almost made me lose my job on a Monday morning. Although I woke up 15 minutes late, I expected the road to be free at that time.

 “I kept honking but they acted like no one was there all because they wanted to pick up passengers. I understand everyone wants to make money but they should not stop other people from making their own money.”

A commuter, Joy Owoeye, explained, “Drivers of these yellow buses will not kill somebody one day. Instead of them to park their vehicles well, they will just park without any sign.

“Although the LASTMA officials there are trying, I also feel that they can do better.”

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofeek, said the General Manager, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, had mandated the Monitoring and Enforcement Team to always monitor activities of commercial bus drivers including private car owners around Oshodi axis and other parts of the state.

He added, “The introduction of Traffic Management Solutions handheld cameras has assisted our officers a lot because they do not need to get closer to any vehicles, be it commercial or private, committing traffic infractions before capturing them at a distance.

“The agency also collaborates with the various transport unions particularly those controlling the Oshodi area on the need to educate their members to stop dropping and picking up passengers at undesignated bus-stops (roadside) thereby contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

“There is also a mutual working relationship between LASTMA officials and traffic policemen from Oshodi environs, Ilepeju, Bolade and Mosafejo.”