Aswani market, situated in Isolo Local Council Area of Lagos State, largely holds every Tuesday. It is certainly not the biggest market in the state but prides itself as a major point of sales of fairly used items and at very cheap prices.
However, commercial activities are not limited to the approved location of the market. Some sides of the major road, leading to it and even adjoining ones, are usually turned to mobile shops. In short, some of the traders preferred making their fortunes on the road, rather than securing and trading at convenient and very safe spaces within the market.
The commercial abuses, especially the cited illegal mobile shops, are just one side of the growing ugly scenarios at Aswani, as well as its connecting road. Some of the adjoining routes have been converted to illegal truck parks. The worst hit part is the highly dilapidated route connecting commuters to the popular 5-Star Junction, located along the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa expressway.
The indiscriminate parking of trucks on the market road and adjoining roads is possibly what is fuelling unchecked activities of commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders on the cited routes.
The leadership of Isolo Local Government has clearly turned blind eyes to the excesses of the motorcycle and tricycle riders. It is obvious that it is mostly concerned about raising revenue, especially using a task force to arrest and fine commercial motorists, abruptly stopping, dropping off or picking up passengers.
The indiscriminate parking of trucks, coupled with unchecked activities of commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders, have aggravated the usual life-choking traffic situation on the Aswani market road. The gridlock also spills to adjoining roads and ultimately negatively impacts on the state’s revenue drive.
Regrettably, state government’s interventions, such as using the Lagos State Environmental Task Force in checking abuses on road, Aswani market road inclusive, seem not to be yielding the desired results. The enforcement team appeared to be more interested in “forcefully” dislodging perceived offenders.
Meanwhile, it is thoughtful and commendable that the state government is rolling up its sleeves to restore sanity to roads across the state. It is, however, very obvious that some of its tough choices, such as setting up the Lagos State Environmental Task Force, are increasing the pains and cries of road users, rather than adding values.
The leadership of Isolo Local Government equally needs to look beyond revenue generation and rise to its responsibilities. It urgently needs to improve roads under its jurisdiction, as well as mobilise its personnel to direct and ensure that traffic moves smoothly.
Police authorities must equally devise a means of arresting and prosecuting bad eggs with its rank and file mounting illegal roadblocks.
Sunday Odiaka, a media practitioner, lives in Lagos
