LASG halts operations of ad-hoc team from removing abandoned vehicles on highways

The Lagos State Government through the commissioner for transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde has again placed an indefinite suspension on the entire ad-hoc teams of Committee on Removal of Abandoned Vehicles (RAVC) operating in the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Area (LCDAs) in the state with immediate effect.

The commissioner who made this known through a press release said the suspension which was contained in a directive by the Governor of Lagos State was as a result of several complaints of extortion and harassment of members of the public by RAVC which is causing embarrassment to the State Government despite several reviews conducted on the operational guidelines of the team.

Oladeinde stated that the directive warned that any ad-hoc team found operating after this notice will be handed over to the Law Enforcement Agencies for trial and prosecution in accordance with the Law of the State as captured in the Traffic Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018.

He added that the directive while requesting the general public to take note of the order also advise abandoned vehicles owners who hitherto pose as environmental nuisances, security and traffic impediment to remove them from the roads as this directive is not an excuse for the negligence of the Traffic Laws of the State.

It would be recalled that the Removal of Abandoned Vehicles Committee, (RAVC) earlier suspension was lifted on 30th December 2021 in view of several appraisal and review of the operational guidelines of the team by the State Government.