The Oyo State Government has urged event planners, event centres’ owners, religious centres and club owners against indiscriminate closure of public roads in order to curtail resultant gridlocks on roads.
The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority, Dr Akin Fagbemi, gave the warning on Saturday while leading an enforcement team against the unauthorised blockade of public roads during social events in the state.
Fagbemi said, “The present administration frowns on the willful disregard to extant laws and regulations guiding the usage of public facilities, including roads and other infrastructure.
“Today, we are commencing full enforcement against this act and we are starting at the Oluyole Estate axis of Ibadan metropolis where some individuals are used to deliberate blockade of government-owned roads.
“The rampant case of unauthorised blockade of government roads across the state is a punishable offence that attracts penalties as spelt out in the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority Act 2009.
“Henceforth, the state government would descend heavily on any individual or groups who willfully barricade government roads thereby creating avoidable traffic loggerheads at strategic positions across the state.”
He, however, said it was expected of individuals or groups to seek permission from the state government before usage.
According to him, OYRTMA would first assess the impact of the blockade and provide an alternative route for commuters along the axis before approving the blockage.
“Any person caught in the act would be made to face the full wrath of the law,” Fagbemi warned.
