By John Ogunsemore
The Lagos State Government has ordered the removal within seven days of any unauthorised gate or barrier within the state.
The state government said failure to comply with the directive would prompt enforcement actions, including removal and penalties, in line with existing regulations.
Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi issued the directive on Tuesday.
He said the Ministry of Transportation has observed a surge in the installation of unauthorised gates, particularly in the Lekki axis of the state.
Osiyemi noted that many of these gates were erected without the necessary approvals from the ministry, while some approved gates are being mismanaged as residents fail to adhere to the established guidelines for gated streets in Lagos State.
He said this non-compliance poses significant challenges to traffic flow, emergency response access, and overall public safety.
“As such, the Ministry is taking a firm stance to address this issue and wishes to reiterate the following in line with the Lagos State Government’s policy and regulations:
“All gates and barriers installed without prior authorisation from the Lagos State Government are illegal and will be removed.
“Any unauthorised gate or barrier must be dismantled within seven (7) days of this announcement. Failure to comply will result in enforcement actions, including removal and penalties, in line with existing regulations,” the commissioner said.
He added, “For gates and barriers with prior approval, compliance with the following guidelines is mandatory:
“Gates or barriers on public roads or streets must remain fully open for public use between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM daily, to ensure interconnectivity and the free flow of traffic across the State.
“All approved gates or barriers must be manned by security personnel engaged by the Community Development Associations (CDAs).
“However, between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, these gates or barriers may remain closed but must be opened promptly in the event of an emergency to allow free access and exit for first responders.”
The commissioner urged all residents and CDAs to strictly comply with these guidelines to foster a safe, efficient, and connected transportation network across the state.
He stressed that failure to adhere to these guidelines would incur punitive measures against non-compliant CDAs, including fines and further enforcement actions from the state government.