January 25, 2016 – The Lagos State Government today ordered landlords in the state to leave all gated streets open between 5am and 11:59pm.
Landlords are however allowed to lock the gates between 12 PM and 5AM but such gates must be manned by security guards to allow for emergency movement, the Lagos State Government has said.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Muslim Folami said henceforth the state government will be forced to demolish gates where it is discovered that landlords or Community Development Associations(CDA)s have failed to heed the order.
He added that landlords and CDAs have just 7 days to implement the directive.
Also speaking at the event, Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Adeniyi Quadri said the order becomes imperatives because locking of gates has resulted in inconvenience, making many to walk long distances to get to the main road.
He said the state government is revisiting the issue of gates in streets to allow for free flow of traffic since the gates are obstructing traffic and impacting negatively on the aesthetics of Lagos.
He said the development has become a source of worry to the state government and CDAs.
Recall that in 2009, the Lagos State Government issued a directive to landlords and CDAs that all gates leading to major roads be locked between 12 mid night and 5 am and that any gate locked must be manned by security guards in case there is any need to go out to allow for free flow of vehicles, reduce traffic congestion and remove the difficulties ambulances and individuals face taking sick people or pregnant women who are in labour to hospital at night.
