Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Central Business Districts (CBD), has refuted claims made in some quarters that the CBD was established to bring in money for the State Government through the arbitrary seizure of vehicles and the arrest of street vendors by its enforcement officers.
Mr. Oyerinde provided the explanation in Ikeja in response to a complaint alleging that CBD agents in the Ikeja and Lagos Island Business Districts were arbitrarily detaining motorists.
In line with the Executive Order issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on zero tolerance for traffic and environmental nuisances as well as indiscriminate dumping of refuse throughout the metropolis of Lagos, the Special Adviser stated: “The present administration seeks total compliance to traffic and environmental laws.”
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to fostering an environment that supports the growth of businesses and added that drivers and businesspeople operating in areas that the State has designated as business districts must abide by traffic and environmental laws in order to avoid fines and other consequences from the State Government.
Speaking on the Agency’s mandate, Oyerinde said it was charged with improving solid waste management via the creation of the CBD Traffic and Environmental Management Corps, as well as providing effective and efficient traffic and environmental services.
He listed a few of the agency’s duties, such as collaborating with pertinent agencies to provide adequate security of lives and property of business owners and residents, improving the aesthetics of CBD roads and surrounding areas through beautification of the business environment, and offering emergency management rescue services.
In order to prevent physical attack and the damage of government facilities purchased with tax dollars, Oyerinde urged the driving public to always report any of its agents who went beyond the scope of their duty to his office.
He argued that the CBD initiatives were consistent with the Lagos State Government’s T.H.E.M.E.S. goal and bemoaned how street commerce was harming the environment. He urged market leaders and company owners whose establishments had been extended to the streets to take them down right now or face the full force of Lagos State’s environmental and physical planning regulations.
In order to reduce environmental and traffic issues inside the commercial zones, the Special Adviser also recommended stakeholders operating in Ikeja and Lagos Island to work with the State Government.