Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, has stepped up its operation to arrest defiant crossing the highway indiscriminately.

According to the agency, the move became imperative as part of its efforts at ensuring free flow of vehicular movement, which wass mostly hindered as a result of pedestrians crossing major highways where bridges were erected for usage.

Its Corps Marshal, Gbemisola Akinpelu stated this during the monthly interface session with senior officers of the Agency at the Command Headquarters, Bolade-Oshodi.

Akinpelu, a retired Police Commissioner, said the agency was geared towards attaining total compliance on road crossing and use of pedestrian bridges in line with the mandate of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the enforcement and prosecution of the offenders.

She emphasised on the risks associated with crossing the highways where pedestrian bridges were constructed, as crossing of highways impede free flow of traffic and unnecessary loss of lives as a result of ‘’hit and run’’ motorists.

Akinpelu said the distance from the pedestrian bridges where arrests could be made by officers of the agency’s against erring pedestrians wishing to endanger their lives by crossing the highway was pegged at two hundred metres.

She stressed that government was interested in ensuring citizens do not endanger their lives by crossing highways, advising them to resort to the usage of pedestrian bridges, as she charged the operatives to intensify efforts at deterring defaulters.

According to her: “The Agency is presently carrying out the total enforcement in some of the identified areas such as Ikeja Along, Ikorodu Road, Ojota, Berger, C.M.S amongst others, while a total number of thirty-six (36) persons have been arrested for prosecution, and saying the exercise will continue and will extends to all part of the State.

LAGESC boss further explained that the Commissioner for Environment & Water Resources, Tunji Bello has approved the establishment of additional Divisional Offices in the State towards ensuring adequate coverage of the State, noting that these Divisional Officers with offices will be strategically positioned towards achieving zero tolerance of all environmental and traffic offences in the State.

While reiterating to the Divisional Commanders, Deputy Divisional Commanders, Unit Commanders and Senior Officers on the need for increased, proper and adequate monitoring of the pedestrian bridges, she also emphasised on the need to dislodge traders around the bridges and walkways for free human movement.

Thirty-six persons have been arrested and arraigned, by operatives of the Corps, for crossing major highways where pedestrian bridges had been erected, and other environmental offences.

According to Akinpelu, the arrests was part of the efforts at ensuring free flow of vehicular movement in the State, which is mostly hindered as a result of pedestrians crossing major highways where bridges are erected for usage.