Drivers hail Sanwo-Olu, LASTMA boss for instilling discipline in personnel

Paul Iyoghoje

Drivers plying Ajah from Obalende and CMS Bus-stop, Lagos Island and those plying Yaba from Obalende have commended the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Sanwo-Olu for supporting the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Olajide Oduyoye and others in their efforts at restructuring, repositioning and instilling discipline in its personnel to move to greater heights.

Some of those who spoke with PM News at Obalende and CMS bus-stop, Lagos Island recently lauded Oduyoye, Mr Bolaji Oreagba in charge of operations and those at the provost department for inculcating discipline, due process and transparency in its personnel for effective service delivery which has helped in reducing complaints from motorist and commuters about the LASTMA officers in recent time.

They urged them not to relent in their bold efforts until LASTMA attains the needed reference status in traffic management in Nigeria and beyond.

According to Mr Elija Odunukwe, a driver plying CMS to Ajah in Lagos, “I am appealing to drivers and commuters plying Lagos roads to continue to support and cooperate with the LASTMA officers to do their job in traffic management in Lagos metropolis because my experience has revealed that the General Manager of the LASTMA, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, Head of Operations, Bolaji Oreagba and those at the provost department at the LASTMA Head office, Oshiodi, Lagos have drastically changed the negative narratives of the LASTMA for better.

“I will never forget the day I was arrested sometime in 2019 by some LASTMA officers because I was not carrying passengers in my bus and they forced me to pay them money.

“In annoyance that I did not commit any offence that would have warranted my arrest, I called a Senior LASTMA Officer at Oshodi head office and narrated my ordeals to him and I was shocked he ordered the errant LASTMA officer to refund my money back to me as investigation revealed that I did not commit any offence.

“Since then, I have changed my negative mindset about the LASTMA officials, in Lagos because Oduyoye and others are doing a wonderful job,” Odunukwe stated.

Mr John Omena, a driver plying Victoria Island, Lagos from Mowe area of Ogun state said, “I have been having negative mind-set about the LASTMA officials like every other driver until the day I benefited from their positive side at their Oshodi LASTMA Head office, Lagos.

A LASTMA Officials arrested me at about 6:30 am at the toll gate area of Ikeja, Lagos in August 2019 for frivolous reasons and compelled me to part with some money to them.

“Not satisfied, I reported the incident to a senior LASTMA officer at Oshodi who apologized to me and told me to come to their office the following day with the name of the LASTMA official.

“I was shocked to my bone marrow that Oduyoye, Oreagba and the provost officers fish out the LASTMA official and ordered him to refund my money to me because, according to them, I was arrested for no just cause.

“I am now appealing to drivers plying Lagos roads not to take the law into their hands any time they are arrested by some LASTMA officials, but lodge a complaint at the Oshodi LASTMA provost officer for justice if they are sure they did not commit any offence before being arrested,” Omena advised.