The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, popularly known as KAI has reiterated its readiness to clamp down on environmental defaulters and sustain its ongoing enforcement operations in the State.

It reiterated this as part of renewed efforts geared to rid the Lagos metropolis of street trading, hawking on roadsides, setbacks, medians, major highways, parks, garages and in traffic.

Its Corps Marshal, retired Police Commissioner Gbemisola Akinpelu gave the charge at the Command Headquarters, Bolade-Oshodi.

According to Akinpelu, “street trading on roadsides, pedestrian bridges, setbacks, medians and hawking on major highways, in traffic constitutes a violation to the State environmental laws which has established the illegality of the acts.

In her words, the Agency is determined to clamp down heavy on the environmental defaulters, especially those displaying alcohol for sales in Lagos parks and garages.

Reading the riot act to environmental defaulters, Akinpelu vowed that the Agency’s enforcement drive would be tremendously consolidated upon, adding there is no hiding place for street traders, hawkers in the State.

Akinpelu also remarked that the ongoing enforcement against hawkers of alcohol in the State’s garages and parks has been positive, stating the Agency secures numerous seizures, arrests, arraignments and sentences by the court on a daily basis.

Admonishing street traders and hawkers to steer clear of Lagos roads, she issued directives to the Agency’s Special Squad to increase the enforcement drive by apprehending defaulters for arraignment on a daily basis and their seized wares be placed in the Agency’s storage facility.

Akinpelu further revealed that the State Environmental laws provides for the onward distribution of seized perishable goods to orphanage homes on a daily basis and non-perishables be put in storage until a court order is secured for public auction whilst generated proceeds are remitted to the State coffers.

The Corps Marshal highlighted the continuous need for pedestrians to make appropriate use of strategically-erected pedestrian bridges across major highways in the State to avoid being knocked down by over-speeding motorists.

This is contained in a statement by the Agency’s Head, Public Affairs. Ajayi Lukman.