Press Releases

LASG Reads Riot Act To People Who Cut Roads Illegally

Dec 2, 2008 - The Lagos State Government on Tuesday reiterated its resolve not to condone any act of illegal cutting of its roads by any individual or corporate body irrespective of the social standing of such people or organization.

A demonstration of the resolve was made at the frontage of the Ikeja High Court premises in Ikeja when 14 people, including an Indian national named K. Ganesh, were brought before the court for illegally cutting a part of the Ikorodu road, an offence punishable under the law in Lagos State.

The men could not be arraigned before any judge as the main entrance into the Ikeja High Court premises was securely locked because of the on-going strike by workers in the judiciary

The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, who spoke with newsmen on the issue said: “Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) is prepared to bring the full weight of the law to bear on people who still break the law with impunity especially in terms of damaging social infrastructures”.

Mr Opeyemi Bamidele added that Lagos is not the only megacity in the world where development is taking place but that people should be wary of the fact that infrastructures are provided with tax payer’s and should be protected at all times.

He reiterated that incalculable damages have been done to several infrastructural facilities in the state in the past and that this informed the setting up of the Lagos State Infrastructure Management and Renewal Agency (LASIMRA) to regulate such conducts.

The Commissioner added that “as a government that respects the rule of law, the arrested men including the Indian national would still be arraigned before a competent court of law whenever the striking workers of the judiciary resume work”.

He added that the latest move of the government should be seen as a clear signal that it would not be business as usual for people who delight in taking the welfare of the majority for granted by inflicting pains and hardships on the people through extensive damage to social infrastructure.