By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) has said illegal parking during the Crossover Night celebrations will attract immediate and strict sanctions.
OYRTMA, in a directive issued by its Executive Chairman, Major Adekoya Adesagba (retd), announced a comprehensive enforcement of its zero-tolerance policy on illegal parking across the state.
It said the directive will take full effect on December 31, a period known for heavy traffic and large public gatherings, and will continue beyond the festivities as part of the Authority’s ongoing road safety strategy.
Adesagba said: “Our approach to Crossover Night is firm and uncompromising. With the expected surge in vehicular movement and public activities, all forms of illegal parking will attract immediate and strict sanctions.
“This is not merely for convenience, but to prevent gridlock, disorder, and, most importantly, loss of lives.”
He further stressed that illegal parking remains a serious safety risk, not only during festive periods but every day.
“Parking on highways, walkways, and kerbs, or abandoning vehicles on the road, is dangerous and unacceptable at all times. Such actions endanger lives daily, and OYRTMA’s enforcement responsibility is continuous,” he said.
OYRTMA said offences that are strictly prohibited at all times include Crossover Night parking on highways, walkways, and kerbs; parking articulated vehicles and trucks on road shoulders and medians; and abandoning faulty or broken-down vehicles on highways or public roads.
Adesagba warned that a vehicle breakdown is not an excuse to obstruct traffic, adding that motorists are responsible for ensuring broken-down vehicles are promptly and safely removed from the road.
The agency added that its response lines remain active to assist road users during the celebrations and in emergencies, and urged members of the public to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns, or illegally parked vehicles through the emergency lines.
