…as Oyo PMS ban commercial tricyclists, motorcyclists on expressway
By Adeyinka Adeniran
No fewer than 1,079 traffic offenders have been arrested in various parts of the state by the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency within a span of 30 days.
This is as the state Park Management System, (PMS) has banned commercial tricyclists (popularly called okada) and motorcyclists otherwise known as (Keke NAPEP) from operating on the expressway in the state.
The Chairman of OYRTMA, Major Adedagba Adekoya (rtd) and the State chairman of the Park Management System, Amb Tomiwa Omolewa made the disclosures in their separate remarks at a Stakeholders Forum facilitated by the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Agency, (OYRLEA) in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Aside the arrest of the traffic offenders, Adekoya said seven people including a nursing mother were killed during the period at Iwo road-Ojoo end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The Chairman who lauded the initiative of the OYRLEA disclosed that, henceforth, one way drive offence would attract one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) in addition to three months of the affected car(s).
He said “OYRTMA will no longer condone any act of lawlessness on the part of any motorist in the state. There must be sanity on our roads.
“Last month, (November) 1,079 people were arrested for various traffic offences including one way drive, non compliance with the traffic light and other offences in the 33 local government areas of the state.
“Also during the period seven people were crushed to death at the Iwo road-Ojoo end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“Henceforth, any motorist caught driving on one way will be subjected to a fine of N100,000 and seizure of his/her car or tricycle for a period of three months
“The sensitization programme embarked upon by the OYRLEA is a welcome development.”
Also in his address, the State chairman of PMS, Omolewa said it has become a criminal offence for any commercial tricyclist or motorcyclist to operate on any of the expressway in the town.
He, therefore, called on the leadership of the OYRTMA to effect their arrest and prosecution.
Also, in her presentation, the Chairperson of OYRLEA, Justice Aderonke Aderemi (rtd) disclosed that henceforth traffic and environment offenders would be tried at the Open Court.
Justice Aderemi while seeking the collaboration of the relevance agencies including the Park Management System, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Bar Association in carrying out the Agency statutory function stressed the need for the people to have a change of heart in abiding with the rules and regulations.
She said, “The bill establishing the OYRLEA was signed into law by Governor Seyi Makinde in April, 2024. The bill is to ensure strict compliance with all the enacted laws including traffic, environment and other laws.
“There is need for our people to abide with all the enacted laws in order to attract local and foreign investors to the state. Ignorance is not an excuse in law. That is why we are here today to sensitize our people on the working of the OYRLEA.
“We need the cooperation of the PMS as an active player and other relevance agencies in the enforcement of the various laws enacted by Governor Makinde led administration in the state.”
