The Lagos State Environmental Taskforce has warned nightclub owners against parking their vehicles and those of their customers on the walkways meant for pedestrians.
This was made known to newsmen on Wednesday by Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, spokesperson of the agency.
According to the statement, Shola Jejeloye, the agency’s boss, issued the warning when he received some representatives of Cubana Hut and Grill Night Club at their headquarters in the Bolade Oshodi area of the state.
Jejeloye lamented the spate and manner in which vehicles of nightclubgoers park arbitrarily by the roadside, sometimes occupy multiple lanes meant for road users, and then cause traffic jams.
On behalf of the taskforce, he informed them of the plans of the task force to nip this problem in the bud and put a final stop to these acts.
“This meeting was called to appeal to you again to warn your customers,” Jejeloye said.
“Provisions and laid-down guidelines have been made known by the state government as to how and where to park vehicles, especially in residential areas like Ikeja GRA, but you find some nightclub owners willfully directing their customers to park right on the road and walkways, thereby inconveniencing other Lagosians.
“This is the highest form of insensitivity, and we will put a stop to it,” he added.
Daniel Akabiro, one of the representatives of the nightclubs present, said that they carry out their activities within the purview of the law and ensure that the parking of vehicles is according to the stipulations of the Lagos State Parking Permit Authority (LASPPA).
The taskforce, however, vow to communicate the word to the essential industry stakeholders and guarantee that nightclub owners adhere to best practices in automobile parking.
Jejeloye encouraged them, as well as other operators around the state, to stop parking erratically while conducting personal business.
He stated that any nightclub that is unable to accommodate its patrons should find an alternative.
“Lagosians have every right to utilize every amenity provided by the state government, and we will ensure that those rights are not deprived of them by nightclub owners,” he said.
“Customers of these entities should have their vehicles parked at the authorized parking spaces approved by the Lagos State Government.”
According to Jejeloye, this is the third meeting in a series organized to encourage nightclub owners to follow best practices and provide a parking place for their guests.
The taskforce boss cautioned that any car discovered in an illegal place will be confiscated and the owner prosecuted by the law.
He named Shobo Arobiodu, Isaac John, and other streets nearby as impassable for cars due to indiscriminate parking, hooliganism, thuggery, and illicit marketplaces operating around the axis.
“All these infractions will be checked soonest,” he said.
