FOLLOWING the alleged extortion of commercial motorists by officials of the Lagos Taskforce, the Lagos Taskforce Office at Bolade Oshodi has responded to the allegations through the Head of Public Relations Unit, Mr Adebayo Taofik Aribidesi.
Drivers of the popular yellow commercial buses, danfo had on Tuesday withdrawn their services from the general public to stage a protest over alleged extortion and harassment by members of the Task Force in Alimosho.
When contacted by Alimosho Today, Mr Aribidesi debunked the extortion allegations and submitted a different view.
He said the cause of their action and non-tolerance of the commercial bus operators is largely due to their non-compliance with traffic laws.
Speaking with Alimosho Today, Aribidesi said: "We heard about the protest, but the fact remains that inasmuch as the most stubborn of the road transport workers refuse to comply with the Lagos State Traffic Laws, they would continue to have problems with relevant law enforcement agents, particularly the Taskforce.
He said they had carried out a consultative arrangement in a meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), Lagos State branch, and the Road Transport Union, (RTU), which are the two bodies controlling the activities of the commercial buses in Lagos in order to educate their members on the need to comply with the traffic rules in Lagos State and key into the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda.
Mr Aribidesi said many of the transport workers are accustomed to converting bus-stops to motor parks, staying more 30 minutes, an hour, sometimes two on the road and impeding traffic. "This will not be tolerated," he said.
The Task Force spokesperson also explained that Task Force officials must be distinguished with their branded jackets from non-taskforce agencies.
Mr Aribidesi said the issue of extortion or harassment do not hold water, as defaulters are often charged to the Lagos Mobile Court where they are expected to pay a fine.
Hence, "the issue of extortion and harassment doses not stand and many drive against the traffic, cause accidents, knockdown pedestrians in their reckless driving," he explained.
