The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu has taken his zero tolerance to traffic congestion and voluntary compliance to all traffic regulations to religious leaders in the state to help sensitize their followers.
Addressing religious leaders at an Inter-faith Safety Seminar organized for members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC),from all the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs by the Ministry of Home Affairs in conjunction with the Lagos State Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service Centre, (LACVIS), Sanwo-olu said the collaboration becomes necessary in order to ensure that more Lagosians voluntarily comply with the laws to avoid embarrassment.
The seminar took place at LACVIS head office at Ojodu-Berger.
The governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Dr Taiwo Salaam said government is seeking the religious leaders collaboration because of the influence they have on their followers and adherents.
He said the state recorded marginal improvement in road accidents and deaths since the traffic law was introduced in 2012, to less than 300 in 2013, but the situation had dipped such that about 5000 deaths were recorded over the past four years as a result of road accidents.
He said government is worried when finding regarding the rising spate of accidents and deaths were traceable to non-renewal of drivers or vehicle licence, absence of road worthiness certificate, insurance certificate and other documents that could certify that the road user is fit to be on the road and to use it.
He said as part of its commitment to traffic and transportation management, the government had signed an executive order, declaring zero tolerance for potholes, and environmental nuisance in the state.
He therefore urged Christian and Muslim leaders to, “assist the government reach the public on how to use the road. What we need is attitudinal change and we are pleading with you to help us pacify them to continue to support the government.”
He said the government is willing enforce and we are going to sustain the enforcement. That is why we have brought you together to help us talk to members of your churches and mosques, because we know they listen to you.
NIREC’s Co-Chairman and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria Prof Alexander Bamgbola praised the government for making traffic and transportation a major focus of his administration. He said the traffic congestion is already taking a toll as many people are already leaving the state for neighbouring southwestern states.
He assured the governor of “real support” of NIREC leadership. “Our cooperation is going to real because we are also affected by the effect of traffic congestion in this state. We are not surprised that Sanwo-Olu is making the road priority, it is a response to our collective prayers.”
The co-Chairman and Chief Imam of Lagos Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla said all religious bodies are united in collaborating with the Sanwo-olu administration.
He said the muslim clerics will go back to their mosques to sensitise their members to the messages of the government as this remains the only way to ensure the success of its policies.
Abou-Nolla who was represented by the Chief Imam of Epe Sheikh Mohammed Shittu said now that the government has identified with religious leaders as partners, we are ready to support all the government initiatives in order to achieve a better and liveable city of our dream.
He praised the government for coming up with the LACVIS centres, adding that with the opportunities of a computerized centre, government would be able to ascertain the wellbeing of all vehicles on its roads.
He however charged the government to aggressively pursue its zero tolerance to potholes, adding that nothing would be achieved in relieving the roads of burdens if the roads are clogged as a result of bad roads.
The VIS Director Engr Hafeez Toriola said the government since 2017 has started the establishment of computerized testing centres in order to reduce incidences of manual testing, which has been the bane which impacts on traffic.
He urged the clergies to appeal to their members and followers to take their vehicles to any of the centres close to them, adding that four new ones would be commissioned in Ojota, Olowu, Yaba, to bring the figure to 14 that has been established across the state.
LACVIS Managing Director Prince Segun Obayendo said the computerized testing would help address mechanical and electrical issues relating to vehicles on the roads.
Obayendo who took the religious leaders on facility tour of the operations of the centre said what obtains at Ojodu is replicated in all the 14 stations and the intention is for the government to have one in each of the 20 local governments.
About 100 religious leaders all members of NIREC from all the local governments in the state attended the seminar.
