Closure of street gates: Lagos gives ultimatum

The Lagos state government has ordered that gated streets across be state be opened for use within the next 7 days or else, such gates would be pulled down.

The state gave this order on Monday, January 25 that streets that have gates across the city should be opened between the hours of 5 am to 12 midnight. Gates that have locks are expected to be manned by security guards in case of emergency.

Mr. Tajudeen Adeniyi Quadri who is the senior special assistant to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on community development and also the chairman of community affairs advisory council said this decision was reached due to increasing complaints from Lagosians.

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He said there have been situations whereby fire fighters and police were prevented from getting to emergency scenes on time due to street gates and barricades as well as instances where rushing patients with emergency situations to hospital were equally frustrated.

The special assistant said the government found out that gates were being locked in several places throughout the day, causing much inconveniences of residents having to walk round to get to the main road, and that some gates were deliberately locked just to prevent others from using the roads, thereby aggravating traffic situations especially in areas where such roads are meant to serve as thoroughfares or alternative link routes.

He pointed out that most places where gates have been mounted have become environmentally unsanitary, while it had been observed that mechanics have also turned such streets to their workshops.

He said: “This government therefore observes with caution that though the erecting and closing of these gates may be desirable, the consequences on the overall urban efficiency, aesthetics and functionality of the city and especially traffic flow poses questions difficult to answer.

“These barricades, though well intended, constitutes obstruction to traffic, especially in areas, where such street gates or barricades are on roads meant to serve as thoroughfares or alternative link routes,”

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Hon Muslim Folami; who is the special adviser to the governor on community and communications said the gates of erring states would be pulled down.

“In view of the challenges posed by the unrestricted erection of street gates, the state government is revisiting the directive on the gates and barricades. Any contravention of this directive will attract necessary punishment for defaulters,”

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