Oshiomhole Launches Edo Traffic Management Agency

Governor Adams Oshiomhole today launched the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) to help reduce the carnage caused by reckless drivers in the state.

During the event, he urged the traffic managers to be civil in their dealings with traffic offenders.

According to him, “even when an offence has been committed, such as wrong parking, we must be civil in our methods. We must even wear a smile while being firm on the issue. The important thing is to keep our eyes on the road. I have seen elsewhere in the world where policemen do their jobs with a smile. While we must be firm, we must not insult people, we must not abuse people.”

The governor warned men of the traffic agency to shun corrupt tendencies, saying anyone caught will be prosecuted.

“We are going to put private monitors with secret cameras to monitor the on-goings. If you are caught in extortion, we will take you to court and ensure that the rule of law prevails and you are brought to justice,” he warned.

While expressing the hope that the officers will take their work seriously, he noted that government has done a lot of work on building and expanding roads across the state as part of general urban renewal.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Transport. Mr. Victor Enoghama said recent statistics showed that a total 29,715 Nigerians were killed in road accidents between 2005 and 2010, while 118,993 of the victims suffered various degrees of injuries in accidents involving 53,000 vehicles.

He appealed to the private sector to partner with the state government to develop the transport sector in the state.

With the launching the chaotic traffic situation in the metropolis will be reduced.

—Yomi Obaditan-Benin City