Lagos State police have stopped the Task Force from carrying out traffic control duties across the state. Commissioner of Police CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, issued a directive for the immediate withdrawal of the Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit from traffic management roles. The order took effect immediately and applies to all areas under Lagos State Police Command. The decision follows public complaints over the conduct of some Task Force personnel while managing traffic. The police stated that traffic control remains the exclusive responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force. No further explanation was given for the timing of the decision. Residents in areas like Alausa, Oshodi, and Lekki had previously reported confrontations with Task Force officials during routine traffic operations.
CP Tijani's move to pull the Task Force from traffic duties suggests a recognition that blending law enforcement roles creates confusion and risk. The unit, originally designed for environmental sanitation, had no legal backing to direct traffic or issue fines. For Lagosians, this means fewer rogue checkpoints — at least for now — and a clearer line between police authority and state agency functions. Whether this lasts depends on whether the command structure holds firm against political pressure to redeploy them later.
