Use Halls, Not Roadsides, for Parties, Taskforce Chairman Akerele Warns Lagos Residents

Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce), CSP Adetayo Akerele, has urged Lagos residents to use event halls instead of public roads for parties and other social gatherings, warning that anyone who obstructs traffic for private celebrations will face the full weight of the law.
Akerele gave the warning after Taskforce operatives dismantled an unauthorized street party on Lawani Street, off University Road, Yaba, where organisers had illegally taken over one lane of the roadway for a private anniversary celebration.
He explained that the affected road serves as a critical alternative route due to ongoing construction on a nearby road, making the obstruction a major inconvenience for motorists and other road users.
Acting on credible intelligence, the Taskforce Chairman immediately deployed enforcement officers to the scene. The operatives removed the illegal barricades and confiscated canopies, chairs, tables and other items used to block the roadway, restoring the free flow of traffic.
Akerele condemned the growing practice of converting public roads into private event venues, stressing that roads are public infrastructure meant for the use of all residents and should never be appropriated for personal celebrations.
He advised residents planning parties and other social events to patronise approved event halls or obtain the necessary approvals where applicable, rather than turning roadsides into venues.
“Public roads are constructed for the benefit of all Lagosians and must not be converted into private event spaces. Anyone found obstructing traffic or blocking public roads for social activities will face the full weight of the law. We will not tolerate actions that disrupt public order or frustrate the daily livelihood of residents,” Akerele said.
The Taskforce Chairman also appealed to residents to support the agency by reporting activities that obstruct roads, endanger public safety or degrade the environment through the agency’s emergency lines, 09137555111 and 09138555111, or via its official social media platforms.
He reaffirmed the Taskforce’s commitment to enforcing environmental and traffic laws to ensure order, safety and the free movement of people and vehicles across Lagos State.