By Demi Adeniyi
Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) remains committed to and will go to any length to minimize traffic incidents and ensure seamless flow of traffic in the state, the General Manager Mr Olalekan Bakare Oki has said.
Speaking yesterday, while receiving the management of leading beverage company Viju Industries, who were on a courtesy visit in his office, at the LASTMA Headquarters at Oshodi, Oki said these are in line with the mandate of the agency established in the year 2000 under the administration of Asiwaju Bola Amed Tinubu, who envisioned an agency that will revolutionize transportation in Lagos State.
Highlighting the growing influx of people from all walks of life into the state, Oki said this has contributed massively to the intractable challenge of traffic congestion which the rank and file of traffic officers have continued to battle with.
He said that LASTMA operates within the framework of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, as amended, which focuses on efficient traffic management to propel socio-economic development in the state.
Addressing the issue of illegal parking, Oki urged Viju Industries Nigeria Limited to address the parking of their trucks on Oba Akran Avenue, which disrupts traffic flow thereby inconveniencing other motorists and road users.
He equally underscored the importance of training and retraining of drivers to adapt to evolving traffic management technologies, such as the new Traffic Management Solutions (TMS) devices provided by the government to LASTMA operatives.
In response, Mr. Jonathan Ogbone, the Manager of Human Resource at Viju Industries Nigeria Limited, expressed the company’s commitment to fostering a positive relationship with LASTMA. He acknowledged LASTMA’s enforcement efforts to impound illegally parked trucks, clarifying that not all trucks around their company premises belonged to Viju Industries.
The courtesy visit signifies a step towards strengthening cooperation between Viju Industries and LASTMA, with both parties aiming to enhance traffic management and contribute to a more efficient transportation system in Lagos.
Recall that last month, LASTMA officers’ attempt to sanitize traffic flow around Viju Industries Head office at Ikeja, had resulted in violence and about four LASTMA officers’ had been injured by the mob mobilized by some of the drivers.
LASTMA had called for reinforcement which had arrested some of the attackers and impounded some trucks obstructing traffic flow around the area.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA’s General Manager had threatened to deal decisively with any citizen who takes the law into their hands by molesting any of his officers in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He said the government would be prosecuting the arrested offenders to serve as deterrent to others who might wish to attack government officials at will.