The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Use of phone while driving: Beyond jail sentence

    The use of mobile phone technology was initially confined to the affluent. However, usage patterns have changed substantially in recent yearsas the costs of owning and using a mobile phone have declined.

    Mobile phone use while driving is common, but widely considered dangerous. Concerns have been raised that use of mobile phone while driving increases the risk oftraffic collisions, property damage, injuries, and fatalities.The weight of the scientific evidence to date suggests that use of mobile phone whiledriving does create safety risks for the driver and his/her passengers as well as other road users. Due to the number of accidents that are related to mobile phone use while driving, some jurisdictions have made the use of mobile phone while driving illegal. Others have enacted laws to ban it but allow use of a hands-free device.

    Mobile phone use while driving is classified as distracted driving. Driver distraction is a sub-category of inattention and has been estimated to be a contributing factor in eight to 13 per cent of all road crashes. In fact, it is believed that drivers who use mobile phone while driving exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers. Concentration, therefore, is an absolute requirement for safe driving because there is so much competing for the attention of the human mind. In the principles of defensive driving, the driver must get the total picture which is all inclusive; what is in front of him, what is behind him, what is beside him.One big irony of distracted driving is that many drivers see distracted driving as risky when other drivers do it, but never get to recognise when their own driving deteriorates.

    Recently, the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) pronounced a prison sentence for anyone accosted using a mobile phone while driving. The recommendation of the jail term by FRSC was predicated on the basis that fines are not achieving the necessary deterrent effect, thus making prosecution the next option to effect attitudinal change amongst motorists. To further drive its seriousness home, the FRSC has teamed up with ExxonMobil and its joint venture partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to embark on public enlightenment focusing among other safety measures the dangers of using mobile phone while driving.

    The use of mobile phone while driving mayentail a variety of different maneuvers; searching for a phone in the vehicle, reaching for aphone to initiate or receive a call, dialing, holding a phone near the ear while talking and driving,picking up a phone that has been dropped.

    Even use of a hands-free phone can bedistracting to the driver as conversation consumes mental energy while driving. The varioustasks entailed in using a mobile phone each require a different amount of time, mental energy,and coordination, leading to potentially different complications of the driving task and possibly risking collision.

    Using the mobile phone while driving is not only dangerous to the driver-phone user but to the other road users too. Of all the potential distractions, the conversation takes the prime focus of the driver away from his driving and what is happening around him. His focus becomes the object or subject of his discussion. The hand-held phone detracts from effective handling of the steering wheel or the gear knob.

    Studies have also revealed that even the use of the hands-free phone poses greater risk, because the driver tends to get carried away in the false comfort that he was not holding the phone and this further diminishes attention.

    Severalsurveysby the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in America have found that 80-90 per cent of mobile phone owners use these devices while driving at leastsome of the time. The extent of use whiledriving varies substantially among owners. The survey also discloses that while most drivers understood the dangers of using mobile phones while driving, a large percentage used them not thinking or understanding the safety implications.

    The fallout from the use of mobile phone while driving cannot just be limited to the collisions that may happen. Motor vehicle collisions are harmful in many ways. For motorists these collisions canresult in minor, serious, crippling, fatal injuries or even death. Collisions result in property damageto vehicles that are often expensive to repair. There are also related health care costs, litigationexpenses, insurance administration, lost work time, and other adverse ramifications of collisions.In urban areas, each collision occurring in rush hour can induce a cascade of traffic congestion,emergency response time, and grief for those affected. Thus, if use of mobile phones whiledriving causes more collisions, motorists and policymakers should be concerned. Businesses andinsurers may also become concerned since these firms bear a significant fraction of the monetarycosts of motor vehicle collisions.

    Some people have argued that the use of phone while driving has some benefits. Whether tangible or intangible, they believe that using a mobile phone while driving has some benefits which may accrue to the user of the phone, the user’s family or household, the user’s social network of friends, acquaintances, the user’s business, or the community as a whole. They believe that use of mobile phone while driving can reduceunnecessary trips, minimise the length of trips, and diminish overall time on the road byallowing more effective communication with household members, friends/acquaintances, andother parties whose schedules and transit plans need to be coordinated with the schedule of the driver.

    There is also the tendency to believe that when a driver is running late, he is more likely to speed in order to reach the destination quickly, thereby reducing any negative consequence of arriving late. In such situation, a call from a mobile phone by the driver can notify colleagues of late arrival and diminish the driver’s urge to speed. They also believe that the ability toachieve instant communication, whether from or to a driver, provides the driver apsychological reassurance that unexpected events of the day can be managed effectively and thatworries related to uncertainties can be resolved by instant news conveyed through a phone call. Also, when teenagers drive, parents worry. Similar concern is expressed for other members of the household (spouses or parents), particularly if they are driving long distances or driving late at night. Knowing that these individuals can, if necessary, call home while driving or can be contacted while in transit contributes to peace of mind for all concerned family members.

    However, as rational as these arguments sound, they pale into insignificance because in any of the situations mentioned above, the driver could have easily pulled up at a convenient roadside and make the call without necessary putting his life and that of other road users at risk.

  • TRACCON Africa conference begins today

    TRACCON AFRICA, the conference and exhibition of construction, earth mover equipment, tyre, logistics, supply chain management, and allied products will begin today at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels in Abuja.

    In a statement the organisers of the event, On Wheels magazine, stated that Mobil Nigeria downstream operations have partnered the equipment and logistics exhibition and conference to improve the yearly event.

    According to the Publisher of the magazine, Jabez Aina-Scott, “A number of blue chip companies, dealing in construction equipment and allied products and Logistics and Supply Chain Management, including Mobil Nigeria, CFAO Equipment, Fortuna Gold, Lanre Shittu Motors, have signified their intention to attend and participate fully in this year’s TRACCON-Africa.”

    TRACCON-Africa, which is in its fourth year, is a specialised exhibition of Logistics, Supply Chain Management, On and ORT Tyres, Lubricants, articulated vehicles, accessories and heavy duty machineries.

    Aina-Scott said the event would feature sessions on conferences and seminars for haulage, truck, supply chain management, Truck and Safety, A handler’s Experience and fleet operations.

    The publisher reiterated that this year’s conference is taking a new shape.

  • Nissan Sentra returns in style

    Nissan Sentra returns in style

    Nissan has restyled the Sentra with upscale features that are trendy to give the car an edge over competitions in the mid-to-up-class segment, where Toyota’s Corolla and Honda’s Civic has over the years held sway. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports

    The new Nissan Sentra is viewed by Nissan as the most revolutionary design in the Sentra’s 30-year history.

    According to the auto firm, this model represents the most innovative, highest quality, highest value sedan lineup in Nissan history, and with the complete redesign, it is closer in look and feel to D-Segment vehicles than a typical compact sedan.

    The 15.2-foot-long Sentra now has ample rear-seat legroom, measuring 37.4 inches, which is more than the back-seat legroom of a typical compact car such as the 2013 Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

    Also five percent lighter than the previous model and slightly larger in overall dimensions with more interior room and aerodynamic looks, the Japanese automaker says the new Sentra epitomises Nissan’s new tagline, innovation that excites.

    Stallion Nissan Motors Nigeria (Stallion NMN), the new Nissan sales company told Motoring reporters at the celebration of the Nissan dealership at Oriental Hotel Lagos that the new Sentra tops 68km per-gallon fuel economy rating for combined city/highway travel, and it is easy to see why the Sentra is a noteworthy new model.

    “And do not think that 68km per gallon is an unattainable figure. The 2013 Sentra SL averaged 68 kliometeres per gallon, even though the car was driven in normal fashion and the travel included a highway in the mountains and foothill roads. In fact, the fuel economy is enough to give the car an impressive score,” NMN head of Sales and Marketing, Mr Amit Sharma said.

    All 2013 Sentras come with 130-horsepower four cylinder that produces a maximum 128 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm.

    The new Sentra, no doubt has upscale feeling, inside and out, such as the light-emitting diodes accent headlights and tail lamps, and chrome-look door handles which are standard on all models.

    The dashboard also has soft-touch feel with a pleasant appearance, and the center armrest between front seats is cushioned.

    While leather-trimmed seats are available, the premium gray-colored, cloth-covered seats provided good support especially on hot summer afternoons.

    The optional navigation package, which added voice recognition control, hands-free text messaging, a rearview monitor and colorful, 5.8-inch display and touch screen, could attract a little more, yet it is amazingly priced when compared with competitors’ pricing.

    A peep at Sentra’s dash is convincing with electroluminescent gauges and upscale touch. However, Nissan did not scrimp on the front-seat legroom to add space to the back seat. Front-seat passengers get a full 42.5 inches of legroom, and the front seat tracks are long to accommodate many sizes of passengers.

    Couple with this is the 15.1-cubic-foot trunk which is sized. All this comes from a 2.3-inch longer car than last year’s Sentra.

    The Sentra is though a bit shorter in height than last year’s model, but at 58.9 inches is still taller than its competitors.

    And while the Sentra has intriguingly grown larger, it is some 150 pounds lighter with improved aerodynamics that helps account for fuel economy.

    Available in 1.8-Litre engine, double overhead cam four-cylinder that develops 10 less horsepower than its predecessor’s 2-litre unit, the new Sentra is astonishingly solid with decent throttle response.

    However, both the manual transmission and CVT variants deliver 96kW of power and 174Nm of torque.

    Drivers in Nigeria, especially in Lagos would find the Sentra’s agility in traffic a soothing relief as Nissan engineers have found the right combination to deliver adequate power and better-than-expected, real-world fuel economy. This is in addition to the “eco” button that conserves fuel when activated, thus reducing unnecessary anxiety on gas mileage.

    Sentra suspensions are built to soften road bumps for a comfortable ride and access mountain curves with poise.

    Perhaps one of the quietest in its class, the Sentra does not have the kind of sound deadening and noise isolation found in most upscale cars, so the interior acoustics insulate sounds and disturbing noise from nearby trucks and engine that ordinarily, could permeate the passenger compartment.

    Nissan Sentra’s four out of five stars in overall crash testing and side crash test recently earned the car a plush credit in safety, which is reassuring when talking safety.

    The Sentra is sold and serviced in Nigeria by Stallion NMN, the official Nissan sales company with extensively retrained service technicians in multiple auto repair disciplines with experience in Nissan’s cutting edge and ever changing technology.

    Sharma said Stallion NMN’s obligation is to make ownership of Nissan an exciting both in the quality of Nissan vehicles and in after sales service.

  • FERMA kicks off Southwest road scheme

    FERMA kicks off Southwest road scheme

    The Chairman, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Mr Ezekiel Adeniji, has kicked off the agency’s South-west (II) Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Public Works Scheme on the Third Mainland Bridge.

    At the ceremony attended by 10 of the 14-member Governing Board, Adeniji said the FERMA SURE-P Public Works scheme in the Zone actually came into effect earlier in the year, that the launch was only a formally.

    He said about 6, 700 youths have been engaged from communities to take care of federal roads and other critical road infrastructure. They will carry out such routine maintenance operations as vegetation control, de-silting of drains, patching of potholes and sundry road maintenance operations under the supervision of experienced engineers and technicians, he added.

    He noted that the number of participants would increase from the 6, 700 to 10, 000 before the end of the year. He envisaged it to reach 45, 000 participants by the end next year.

    According to Adeniji, President Goodluck Jonathan administration decided to involve communities and youths, not only to employ the teeming unemployed youths, but also as means of committing communities to participate in monitoring and maintaining national road assets in line with the President’s transformation agenda in the roads sector.

    He said the choice of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos to launch the scheme was in recognition of the vital place of the 13-kilometre facility in the socio-economic life of the nation.

    The chairman stated that necessary equipment and materials have been deployed to formations while necessary measures to safeguard participants against maintenance scene and related hazards have been put in place.

  • New Mazda: Blend of fun, comfort

    New Mazda: Blend of fun, comfort

    The 2014 Mazda CX-5 is unique. It is a dynamic departure from the compact SUV segment’s otherwise typical low standards. The brakes, suspension and steering are uncommonly capable, and in general, the CX-5 is fun and confidence-inspiring on a curving road. On the open highway, the CX-5 is not the quietest choice available, but it still rides comfortably. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO writes

    The 2014 Mazda CX-5 has been a big success for Mazda, a company that so often struggles to get the attention of buyers more inclined to shop other brands. The CX-5’s blend of good looks, generous feature content, ample space and carlike driving dynamics has apparently resonated with folks looking for a compact crossover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). If there was one area of possible improvement, it was under the hood.

    The Mazda CX-5 addresses that issue. Last year’s 2.0-litre “Skyactiv” four-cylinder that was strong in fuel economy but weak in power now lives on only in the base Sport model. The Touring and Grand Touring trims now come with a bigger version of that engine, which displaces 2.5 litres and puts out 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Not only is that 29 and 35, more than the two-litre, it is also one of the more potent non-turbo four-cylinder engines in the segment. Best of all, fuel economy takes only a tiny dip.

    Beyond that, the CX-5’s virtues go unchanged for 2014. It remains one of the most enjoyable little SUVs to drive, as Mazda once again proves that sensible does not need to equal boring. The CX-5’s cabin is not the most visually dynamic around, but it can be equipped with most of the bells and whistles to expect from compact crossovers. Some of them are controlled by a touchscreen that is hardly a class-leading interface, but we think most will find the CX-5’s controls to be simple and intuitive.

    Of course, there are an awful lot of worthy competitors to consider. The Ford Escape offers available turbo power and a more appealing interior, the Honda CR-V is a more utilitarian choice, and the 2014 Subaru Forester boasts stronger credentials for off-road use. However, the 2014 Mazda CX-5 should be strongly considered. It may be quite conventional in concept, but it is certainly unique in its execution.

     

    Body Styles

     

    The CX-5 is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV available in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels.

    The base Sport comes standard with 17-inch wheels, full power accessories, keyless entry, air-conditioning, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, auxiliary audio jack and a USB/iPod interface. The Bluetooth Audio package adds Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a touchscreen interface, HD radio, Pandora Internet radio, automatic crash notification, SMS text message reading and audio system voice controls. Foglights are a stand-alone option.

    The Touring gets the Sport’s optional equipment plus a more powerful engine, a rearview camera, a blind-spot warning system, a six-way power driver seat, a 40/20/40-split-folding rear seat, upgraded cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a six-speaker sound system. The Moonroof and Bose Audio package adds a sunroof and a nine-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.

    The Grand Touring includes all of the above, plus 19-inch wheels, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, heated front seats and leather upholstery.

    The Technology package available on both Touring and Grand Touring models tacks on the Smart City Brake Support System (see Safety section), automatic and adaptive bi-xenon headlights, an auto-dimming mirror, satellite radio and a TomTom-powered navigation system. The latter two items are available as stand-alone options. The Touring version of this package includes automatic wipers, while the Grand Touring version gets keyless ignition/entry.

     

    Powertrains and

    Performance

     

    The CX-5 Sport comes with the same engine as last year: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that produces 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. Buyers are offered the choice of front- or all-wheel drive. However, the 2.0-litre alone comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is optional.

    In Edmunds performance testing, an all-wheel-drive CX-5 with this engine went from zero to 60 mph in 9.7 seconds, which is average for a small crossover. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and the automatic. It drops to 25/31/28 with all-wheel drive, but raises to a class-leading 26/35/29 with the manual.

    The CX-5 Touring and Grand Touring get a 2.5-litre four-cylinder good for 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed automatic is standard. Despite its added power, EPA-estimated fuel economy is nearly identical at 25/32/27 with FWD and 24/30/26 with AWD.

     

    Safety

     

    Every CX-5 comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. An automatic crash notification feature is optional on the Sport and standard on the Touring and Grand Touring, which also get a blind-spot warning system.

    The optional Smart City Brake Support system uses a laser sensor to detect stationary objects such as stopped cars or pedestrians in front of the vehicle at speeds up to 19 mph. If the driver fails to respond to a warning, the car can automatically apply the brakes.

    A CX-5 Grand Touring came to a stop from 60 mph in 121 feet, which is a bit better than average for the class.

    The government gave the CX-5 four out of five stars for overall crash protection, with four stars for total frontal crash protection and five stars for side-impact protection. In crash testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the CX-5 received the highest possible rating of “Good” in the frontal-offset, side and roof strength tests.

     

    Interior Design

     

    The cockpit of the CX-5, regardless of trim level, is attractive, modern and functional. It is a mature (some might say demure) design, but at least it is not swathed in poorly rendered fake wood or highly reflective chrome trim. Soft-touch surfaces are set off with the limited use of satin-finish metallic details, and the black gauges with white lettering are highly legible. The optional TomTom-sourced navigation system is satisfactory, but many competitor units are quicker, more intuitive and have better graphics. The audio system’s touchscreen interface is similarly just OK.

    The driving position and front seat comfort are both quite good. The rear seats are spacious (especially in terms of legroom) for the category and, while a bit flat to sit on, feature an innovative folding mechanism on the Touring and Grand Touring that lowers the seat bottom before folding the seatback on top to provide a near-flat load floor. With all seats occupied, there are 34 cubic feet of luggage space that grows to a competitive 65 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

  • Agency set for yuletide

    Agency set for yuletide

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr Gabriel Amuchi, has said the agency has started a nationwide delivery of better Federal roads through maintenance ahead of the yuletide season.

    He made this known at a briefing to round off a three-day operational strategy/capacity building workshop for the Agency’s Zonal Coordinators and Federal Roads Maintenance Engineers in Abuja ahead of commencement of massive road maintenance works during the upcoming dry season.

    He reeled out a checklist for achieving the objectives fashioned out by management and participants at the workshop which include adopting necessary pro-active measures to ensure the roads in good condition are maintained to remain pothole-free, upgrade ones in poorer conditions; provision of monthly logistics and other support to field offices under the SURE-P FERMA public works scheme to enhance safety and visibility on arterial Federal roads through control of vegetation; increased tempo of public enlightenment campaigns against road abuse and harmful practices that damage our roads, including dumping of refuse in drains, conduct of street trading on highways, burning of tyres and indiscriminate installation of speed bumps/breakers.

    Amuchi explained that through a process of routine needs assessments of the various field operations, the agency has improved on its capacity to deploy equipment, construction materials and personnel all over the country to ensure seamless operation and better federal roads in the country.

  • Assembly wants Epe-Ibeju road dualised

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the state government to include the dualisation of Epe-Ibeju road next year’s budget.

    Hon. Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe 1 constituency made the request at a plenary under matter of urgency.

    The project, he said, was a necessity because of accidents recorded in the area occasioned by the narrow Epe-Berger Bridge, itinerant hawkers, unabated activities of sand miners and various on-going construction projects in the area.

    After the debate the lawmakers resolved that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) should station a towing vehicle on the Epe-Ibeju road to evacuate break-down vehicles and reduce road accidents.

    The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources was also mandated to curb activities of sand miners in the area by checking the proliferation of mining site and educating the sand miners to always evacuate split sand littered on the road to avoid mishap.

    It said the Commandant of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) should complement the efforts of LASTMA in maintaining sanity on the road by curbing the activities of hawkers on the Epe-Ibeju Road.

    Speaker of the House, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, explained that the resolution became necessary to enable motorists to plying the road have a sigh relief.

  • CFAO Motors trains young drivers

    CFAO Motors trains young drivers

    A leading distributor of Mitsubishi and FUSO vehicles, CFAO Motors has introduced a training programme for young drivers to new techniques for handling the vehicles throughout Nigeria.

    Coming on the heels of its commitment to this year’s Gulder Ultimate Search, NB Plc’s adventure reality TV show for young and strong Nigerians, the training initiative is to engage undergraduates currently on forced vacation as well as those in need of professional internship on how to drive and maintain original MitsubishI and FUSO vehicles distributed by CFAO Motors nationwide. Other beneficiaries of the training initiative are dealer technicians, drivers of major fleet customers, and professional contract drivers.

    The initiative, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, is also designed to assist the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to further reduce the alarming rate of automobile crashes on the roads.

    According to CFAO Motors’ After Sales Manager, Mitsubishi and FUSO vehicles, Mr Avinash Ghogardare, trainees, technicians and drivers are introduced to the company’s automobile insurance recovery support system, its modern spare parts on-line ordering technology, an inventory of N750 million original parts, express service facilities, exclusive tyre repair centre and S-5 After Sales application software.

  • Use of phone while driving: Beyond jail sentence

    Use of mobile phone technology was initially confined to the affluent. However, usage patterns have changed substantially in recent yearsas the costs of owning and using a mobile phone have declined. Mobile phone use while driving is common, but widely considered dangerous. Concerns have been raised that use of mobile phone while driving increases the risk oftraffic collisions, property damage, injuries, and fatalities.The weight of the scientific evidence to date suggests that use of mobile phone whiledriving does create safety risks for the driver and his/her passengers as well as other road users.Due to the number of accidents that are related to mobile phone use while driving, some jurisdictions have made the use of mobile phone while driving illegal. Others have enacted laws to ban it but allow use of a hands-free device.

    Mobile phone use while driving is classified as distracted driving. Driver distraction is a sub-category of inattention and has been estimated to be a contributing factor in eight to 13 per cent of all road crashes.In fact, it is believed that drivers who use mobile phone while driving exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers.Concentration, therefore, is an absolute requirement for safe driving because there is so much competing for the attention of the human mind. In the principles of defensive driving, the driver must get the total picture which is all inclusive; what is in front of him, what is behind him, what is beside him.One big irony of distracted driving is that many drivers see distracted driving as risky when other drivers do it, but never get to recognise when their own driving deteriorates.

    Recently, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) pronounced aprison sentence for anyone accosted using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.The recommendation of the jail term by FRSC was predicated on the basis that fines are not achieving the necessary deterrent effect, thus making prosecution the next option to effect attitudinal change amongst motorists. To further drive its seriousness home, the FRSC has teamed up with ExxonMobil and its joint venture partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to embark on public enlightenment focusing among other safety measures the dangers of using mobile phone while driving.

    The use of mobile phone while driving mayentail a variety of different maneuvers; searching for a phone in the vehicle, reaching for aphone to initiate or receive a call, dialing, holding a phone near the ear while talking and driving,picking up a phone that has been dropped.

    Even use of a hands-free phone can bedistracting to the driver as conversation consumes mental energy while driving.The varioustasks entailed in using a mobile phone each require a different amount of time, mental energy,and coordination, leading to potentially different complications of the driving task and possibly risking collision.

    Using the mobile phone while driving is not only dangerous to the driver-phone user but to the other road users too. Of all the potential distractions, the conversation takes the prime focus of the driver away from his driving and what is happening around him. His focus becomes the object or subject of his discussion. The hand-held phone detracts from effective handling of the steering wheel or the gear knob.

    Studies have also revealed that even the use of the hands-free phone poses greater risk, because the driver tends to get carried away in the false comfort that he was not holding the phone and this further diminishes attention

  • Fashola and traffic chaos in Lagos (II)

    Fashola and traffic chaos in Lagos (II)

    The CDAs will become more active in urging the community members to pay their Land Use charges so that they can enjoy more infrastructures from the government. This will create healthy competition among communities and drastically reduce the rate of default without the government wasting money and time in litigations against defaulters.

    • In all the areas where the government is embarking on major roads construction, there should be a simultaneous provision of more access roads to absorb the imminent traffic inflow.

    For example, the expansion work on Ikorodu road will, without doubt, increase the inflow of more people into Ikorodu (landlords, tenants, business clients and visitors). There is, therefore, an urgent need to work on the access road from Owutu to Ojodu via Isheri Oke as proposed by the state government. There is also a need to create an access road from Ita Oluwo on Shagamu road to link the Owutu – Ojodu/Ikeja road at Igbolonu junction area.

    There is also a need to tar the Owutu – Agbede – Ita-Oluwo road. These, if done, in addition to the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu–Shagamu and Ikorodu-Ijebu-Ode roads will go a long way in easing up the traffic to and from Ikorodu thus boosting the economic and social activities in Ikorodu Local Government and the five Local Community Development Associations. The growth and development of the communities will also enhance income generation for the state and local governments in those areas.

    • Transport touts – There are two categories of transport touts that are constituting nuisance in the Lagos State transport system. The first group are the touts that call passengers into vehicles, particularly at Jibowu, Mazamaza, and a few other places. These Touts are fond of embarrassing innocent people by dragging Travellers, pulling their bags, making a mockery of responsible citizens. Government should send plain cloth agents to loading points of inter-state transporters to get a clearer picture of the activities of these Touts and take appropriate actions to curtail their excesses in the interest of security, good traffic flow, and human freedom.

    The second category of Transport Touts are the people working for transport Unions and Local Governments. Some years ago, I sent a comprehensive blue-print to the Lagos State government but it was not even acknowledged not to talk of acting on it. The summary of the suggestion is that the state government should licence few Intra- state transport companies to manage the intra-state transport vehicles in Lagos State.

    As part of the conditions for licensing, these companies will be required to have adequate spaces (land) or the government can assist them to secure spaces where possible, to serve as their motor parks.

    The companies will be given colours, codes or trade marks for identification. Each vehicle will have a number at the front, back and sides so that whenever any of them commits any offence, picking the number (not plate number) will reveal the vehicle and driver details for prosecution.

    All the levies being collected by Transport Unions and Local Governments on the roads will simply be collected by the various companies right in their offices and remit same accordingly. This strategy will keep the touts off the road for the good of Lagos State traffic system.