Diaspora Lagosians Appeal To Sanwo-Olu To Stop Police, LASTMA Traffic Officers From Worsening Lagos Traffic Jams

The union in a press release signed by its President, Mr. Toyin Ibrahim Igbo; General Secretary, Mr. Olanrewaju Oluwa and Publicity Secretary, Engr. Kayode Ajayi, on Sunday, February 4, 2024, said LASTMA and police personnel have in recent times caused Lagosians more pain and psychological trauma than good.

Lagosians living in the United Kingdom and Ireland otherwise known as Lagos State Union UK have appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to caution the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police officers against causing unnecessary gridlock in the state.

The union in a press release signed by its President, Mr. Toyin Ibrahim Igbo; General Secretary, Mr. Olanrewaju Oluwa and Publicity Secretary, Engr. Kayode Ajayi, on Sunday, February 4, 2024, said LASTMA and police personnel have in recent times caused Lagosians more pain and psychological trauma than good.

It added that rather than LASTMA officials controlling traffic to ease its free flow, they are stationed at strategic spots and every bus stop to worsen traffic jams.

The union noted that police officers also disturb road users while conducting ‘stop-and-search’ exercises.

The union said, “The LASTMA was set up in July 2000 to fill the gap created by inadequate traffic management at that time. It is an agency supervised by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, supported by legislation of the Lagos State House of Assembly, and the Lagos Transport Sector Reformed Law of 2018.

“It was also established to transform the state transportation system to ensure free flow of traffic and to reduce accidents.

“On the other hand, the Nigeria Police Force is saddled with the responsibility for prevention and detection of crime. The apprehension of offenders. The preservation of law and order. The protection of life and property.

“Now, these officers have deviated from their core duties and are breaking the laws they were meant to protect. If Lagos can be ranked 16 best city to live in the world, Governor Sanwo-Olu should uphold the image of the ranking by making sure the menace being constituted by LASTMA and police officers on Lagos roads becomes history.

“We are in the 21st century where information and technology are the order of the day. With the right technological devices, traffic offenders and criminals would be apprehended. This system of blocking roads to combat rogues and criminality is already obsolete with modern technologies.

“We Lagosians in the diaspora are not happy that when we return home and sometimes with foreign friends only to be greeted with this unprofessional conduct by these officers. We appeal to our proactive governor to urgently fix this ugly trend in Lagos.

“The LASTMA and police can do their jobs without necessarily causing traffic. Traffic should be traffic, but when law enforcement agencies are the ones causing the traffic, then there is a huge problem.”

credit : Sahara reporters