NCS Seized 533 Smuggled Cars Betw Jan-Nov, LASG Releases Impounded Trucks, LASTMA Rescues Drunk Driver, News In The Past Week

NCS seized 533 smuggled cars Betw Jan-Nov, LASG releases impounded trucks, LASTMA rescues drunk driver, 3rd Mainland Bridge : Traffic diversion announced, news in the past week. 

LASG Releases 60 Illegally Parked Trucks Impounded By LASTMA For Impeding Traffic

The Lagos State Government has released sixty (60) illegally parked trucks impounded by the Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) during a special operation on Friday, 22nd December, 2023.

According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the trucks were impounded for impeding traffic flow on the Cele-Apapa/Tincan axis.

The Commissioner however warned that the State Government would continue to exercise its authority to enforce compliance and remove offending trucks as the situation arises.

LASG Announces Traffic Diversion On Third Mainland Bridge For Emergency Repairs

The Lagos State Government has announced traffic diversion ahead of emergency repairs on the Iyana-Oworonsoki end of the Third Mainland Bridge, which is expected to start on Tuesday 9th January, 2024.

A statement by the Lagos State Government on Friday reads :

“The Lagos State Government wishes to inform the public that emergency repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge will continue with the closure of Iyana Oworonshoki- Adeniji Adele bound by 11am on Tuesday 9th January, 2024.”

“The closure is for effective repairs of the entire section of the bridge and is part of the ongoing work that started in November, focusing on fixing the ramps, and now, the remaining parts of the bridge will also be repaired.”

Betw Jan-Nov 2023, Customs Seized 533 Smuggled Cars Worth N2.9b, Car Dealers Blame High Duty

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have reportedly seized about 533 vehicles with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2.92 billion that were smuggled into the country between January and November 2023.

In a recent interview with Punch Ng, Car dealers blamed the development on the high duty rate for clearing imported goods, including vehicles, introduced by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Reacting to the development, the Secretary-General of Lagos State Motor Dealers Association, Tai Olaniran, blamed the high duty rate for imported vehicles on the increase in smuggling vehicles.

“The government is not serious, and why I said that is because they are supposed to bring down the duties for clearing of goods including cars like what is obtained in other countries.

“If you pay lesser duties it would discourage smuggling or bringing the vehicles through unapproved routes and the government would also make more money,”

LASTMA Rescue A Drunk Driver Who Rammed Into A Road Median At Marina, Lagos

A driver will likely face Driving under the Influence (DUI) charges after ramming a Volkswagen Space bus he was driving into a road media at C.M.S inward outer Marina area of Lagos.

Following the crash on Monday December 25th, LASTMA personnel working around CMS outer Marina rushed to the scene and rescued the trapped driver, who was later rushed to ‘Odan’ General Hospital for medical treatment.

Speaking on the crash, the General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Bakare Oki, who visited the accident scene, appealed to the motoring public not to drink while driving and to obey all traffic regulations in order to ensure safety.