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Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has stressed that the primary responsibility of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority personnel, is to keep traffic moving.
The governor who stated this at the induction of new Special Traffic Mayors and interactive session with Lagos State Traffic Management Authority personnel,at the Blueroof Hall, LTV Complex, Agidingbi emphasized that if any LASTMA official realizes that in the process of arresting a traffic offender, there is every likelihood of creating more traffic bottleneck such a traffic offender should be let go.
He said if traffic is kept moving, the quality of life of the average citizen would improve as less hours would be spent in traffic and more money saved by the motorists and commuters on the roads.
Noting that it was impossible for him and other senior government officials to be everywhere, Governor Fashola said every LASTMA official as part of their responsibility should help generate much needed information on the state of the roads in the state , especially those in need of repairs by regularly sending reports that would assist the government in ensuring that such roads are quickly repaired.
He explained that the Lagos State Government has boosted its capacity for such repairs by not only establishing an agency for road rehabilitation, it has also commenced the process of constructing an asphalt plant in Ikorodu and Badagry in addition to the one in Ojodu.
He explained that the relaunch of the Special Traffic Mayor is about the genuine desire of the State Government to get a volunteer Corps to provide solution to an everyday problem by assisting in keeping traffic moving at all times.
The Governor, who also spoke against the backdrop of reported incidents of fatal auto accidents in some parts of the state, stressed that it is pertinent for people to realize that vehicles don’t drive themselves and do not cause accidents but are propelled by people who drive them.
On concerns raised by some people about increased human and vehicular movements in the past few days, the Governor reminded the gathering that it is already the middle of November and several contracts for rice supplies, turkeys, groundnut oil and hampers have been awarded for the Christmas period which have to be executed.
He also explained that the State Government is currently constructing over 200 inner city roads round the state, some of which are in various stages of completion and have resulted in some forms of traffic bottlenecks as well at this period.
He said the underlining factor is that the people must realize that the road is a resource that everyone is always trying to make use of at the same time urging people to consider the possibility that the task necessitating a trip on the road could be carried out through phone calls or text messages.
The State Governor gave a commitment that the State would continue to expend its resources on training of LASTMA staffers as it has done in the past, adding that the operatives have just concluded an intensive training programme to position them for better service.
He said the new trainees would upon graduation be moved to the public service employment scheme that comes with pensions, adding that they can indeed enjoy a clear career in law enforcement cadre in the State public service
He described the reported case of an operative of LASTMA who was caught on tape by a member of the public, soliciting for inducement as that of a bad egg that does not represent the true face of LASTMA, adding that a manhunt is on for the runaway official who would be made to face the law for his act.
The governor stated that the implementation of the Road Traffic Law in the State has brought successes noting that the 646 accidents recorded by August 2012 had dipped to 111 by August this year noting that deaths on commercial motorcycles which stood at 15 monthly has reduced to one per month while between the period of August to October this year, no death was recorded on okadas in the state.
While noting that the safer roads has encouraged leisure activities like cycling, the Governor also warned those who have formed the habit of skating on highways to desist from doing so as henceforth such people would now be arrested and prosecuted because the act forms an infraction of the State Traffic Law.
He said young people who are interested in skating should go to stadiums and amusement parks to exhibit their skills and not on the major highways.
Governor Fashola also reiterated his appeal to all residents of the State to ensure that they come forward and register with the State Residents Registration Agency which is about the resolve of the government to plan for better services provision utilizing the number of people resident in Lagos.
