Lagos Govt Declares Zero Tolerance For Violation Of Road Traffic Laws
4 min read
(L-R) Lagos State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Olusegun Ogungbemide, Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Sewedo Oluseyi Whenu, and General Manager, LASTMA, Engr Olajide Oduyoye, during the Press Briefing on Traffic Rules Violation at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
The Lagos State Government has picked the gauntlet against any motor vehicle driver and Commercial Motorcycle rider who violates any aspect of the Lagos State Transportation Sector Reform Law 2018, as the government vowed to subject to the full wrath of the law, anyone caught violating the traffic regulations.
Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, read out the riot act to all motorists and especially to commercial motorcyclists who, since the #ENDSARS protest, in 20th October 2020, had begun exhibiting daredevilry audacity to operate as if there was no law guiding their business in the state.
The Commissioner for Transportation vowed that the State Government will exert the full weight of the Law on Non-Compliant Okada Riders with penalties ranging from N20,000 to three months imprisonment and the recalcitrant Motorists shall have their vehicles impounded.
Oladeinde who Confirmed the existence of a Special joint Task Force drawn from the Nigerian Police Force, (NPF), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), affirmed that the full enforcement of the Lagos State Traffic Law Reform 2018, had commenced and those found contravening any of its provisions would be charged to court.
He reminded commercial motorcycle riders popularly called Okada, that the law prohibiting Okada operations in 6 (Six) Local Government Areas and 9 (Nine) Local Council Development Areas of the State including Apapa, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, Ikeja, Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Yaba, Itire-Ikate, Coker Aguda, Onigbongbo, Ojodu, Ikoyi-Obalende, Iru-Victoria Island and Lagos Island East, is still in force, and reiterated that any operator that violates the law would be sanctioned according to the dictates of the Law.
The Commissioner specifically reminded Okada operators that the State Government had not reneged on its position on the use of commercial motorcycles in the aforementioned areas, declaring that the State government would not condone the recent surge of lawlessness displayed by these operators.
Oladeinde further stated that any motorist caught driving against the traffic will pay the maximum penalty, which is to have their vehicles impounded, and forfeited in line with TSRL 2018.
The Commissioner also assured that the State Government will involve Stakeholders in the sector, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transportation Employers Association (RTEAN), Motorcycle Owners Association of Lagos State (MOALS), Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) and other bodies in the Joint Task Force to ensure that their members cooperate and obey the State Traffic Laws and sanitize Lagos roads from the menace of Okada riders.
In his remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, charged the Road Transport Unions to actively rid their professional bodies of bad eggs perpetuating these acts including One-Way driving, wrongful use of the BRT corridors, among others, adding that this will not be handled mildly by the Government as it has projected the State in a negative way.
He urged Transport Unions and their members to desist from acts capable of bringing discomfort and pains to other members of the society as it is mandatory that the stipulated rules are followed to the letter by all and sundry.
Also present at the briefing was Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Olusegun Olugbemide who disclosed that in the last three weeks, the agency had recorded an alarming number of crashes from motorcycle accidents across the State as a result of the surge in recklessness and impunity on the part of the riders. He appealed to transport workers to come together with traffic management agencies to solve the issue on ground.
The State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu represented by Superintendent of police, Ozoani Damasus, urged all citizens to come together and give peace a chance. He pledged that the State Police command would do all within its powers to ensure the security of lives and properties of the citizenry.
In the same vein, the Chairman, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, represented by Supol Ogar, stated that his men will carry out their duties as a law enforcement agency, adding that the unit will not back down in its effort to rid Okada riders from restricted routes and areas in the State.
In his response, the Deputy Chairman, NURTW, Alhaji Suleiman Ojora revealed that efforts had commenced within the Union to tackle the problems through close supervision of areas under their control. He also asked the State Government to include his members in the task force as it will make enforcement more effective.
The Public Relations Officer RTEAN, Hon. Ayinde Runmonkun also pledged support towards the Government in its bid to tackle lawlessness on the roads, he concurred that the full weight of the Law should be invoked against traffic offenders and violators in the State.
About Post Author
