20th October, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
The recent traffic challenges facing Lagos State has forced the lawmakers in the state to summon the General Manager of the state Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Bashir Braimah to appear before them.
Though no date has been fixed for him to appear and explain the traffic situation before the House, the lawmakers lamented that residents of the state were passing through serious traffic problems.
The decision of the lawmakers followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance by Moshood Oshun, the member of the House representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2.
The House also urged the newly appointed Commissioner for Transportation in the state, Dayo Mobereola, to direct all relevant agencies in the state to ensure free flow of traffic.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who supported Oshun’s complaint before the House, said the state should have concentrated on rail and water transportation to ease traffic congestion on the roads.
“We should invite the GM of LASTMA to come and address us on the issue, while the newly appointed Commissioner for Transportation in the state should be called upon to direct relevant agencies to ease the traffic situation in the state.
“LASTMA was established to ease traffic in the state, and also provide jobs for people and any official of the agency that is not ready to work should be shown the way out. We have to urgently do something about this,” Obasa said.
In his contribution, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, called for zero tolerance for reckless driving and driving against traffic as well as for commercial motorcyclists who ply restricted roads.
He also supported the invitation of the LASTMA boss by the House.
Also, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, stated that the intention of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in changing the approach of LASTMA officials to traffic situations in the state was good.
He added that the Governor did not stop LASTMA officials from enforcing traffic laws, adding that commercial motorcyclists now ride on express roads with impunity.
“We need to enlighten our people more now that we have commissioners in place. We should call on the Commissioner for Information and that of Transportation to collaborate to enlighten our people on traffic rules and the transportation commissioner should effect the genuine intention of the Governor on transportation in the state.”
Contributing, Tobun Abiodun, representing Epe Constituency 1, blamed the Federal Government for abandoning Lagos.
He appealed that federal roads in the state should be fixed to ease traffic problems that have now bedevilled the state.
Tobun also berated the Nigerian Police for allowing commercial vehicles to make illegal u-turns and drive in opposite directions, appealing to the state commissioner of police to resolve this.
Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2 said drivers in the state have remained adamant to traffic laws because most of them obtained their licenses without knowing traffic rules and laws.
“I believe there should be civility in the enforcement of traffic laws and there should be alternatives to LASTMA officials entering the vehicles of traffic offenders.
“The electronic monitoring system that was discussed here sometime ago should be included in the 2016 budget,” he said.