The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KAI

  • RRS, KAI arrest 109 for highway crossing

    RRS, KAI arrest 109 for highway crossing

    The Lagos State Police Command, in collaboration with the state-owned sanitation outfit – Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade – arrested 109 people for crossing the highway at the weekend.

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Commander Tunji Disu, said the operation was carried out to ensure the use of the pedestrian bridges by residents.

    According to him, the enforcement will prevent loss of lives on highways and enhance traffic free-flow.

    Of the 109, Disu said 102 are men and seven women.

    According to Disu, the offenders were arrested for crossing the expressway at Ketu Bus-Stop along Lagos-Ikorodu Road on Friday and Saturday.

    He said: “The special operation was necessitated following increasing loss of lives on the highways.

    “This operation is a continuous one. We are saddled with the responsibility to instil discipline to preserve lives and property. This is why we can’t fold our arms while many lives are being lost for not using the pedestrian bridges. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said he wants a safer Lagos.

    “This act of indiscipline will not be allowed in the state any longer. If traffic is allowed to flow freely, the menace of in-traffic robbery cases will become a thing of the past,” he said.

    One of the motorists plying the route, Mrs Remi Fagboungbo, lauded the development.

    She urged the operatives not to relent in making sure people‘s attitude to the use of pedestrian bridge change.

    “The overhead bridge is built to protect our lives. I wonder why people refuse to climb it. In recent time, a commercial bus driver knocked down a young man on this highway when he wanted to cross. This exercise must continue because it will help a lot in reducing deaths on the highway and allow free-flow of traffic”, she said.

    Another commuter, Mr Alonge Ajasa, thanked the governor for acting on time to curb the act of indiscipline.

    “This is indeed the change we all need at this moment. This exercise will in turn be beneficial to the citizenry if it continues this way. Our governor has really done well to prevent loss of lives on our highways as well as to ease vehicular movements,” Ajasa said.

  • CDHR protests ‘anti-people’ laws

    CDHR protests ‘anti-people’ laws

    Members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday as part of the celebration of human rights day, challenging what it called anti-people laws emanating from the House.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, its Lagos State chairman, Comrade Buna Isak said those at the helm of affairs in the country should desist from dishing out anti-people policies to forestall possible revolution which may occur if government remain adamant.

    Isak said: “December 10 is set aside as the commemoration of human rights day, the truth remains that in Nigeria, we still have a long way to freedom. People are not contented with what is happening. There are indiscriminate arrests by officers of the Lagos State government security outfits, they include LASTMA, KAI, Task Force, the police among others and people are being subjected to unnecessary pains and hardship at different points in the state.”

    He urged the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji to urgently intervene to save innocent people that are being detained especially at the Task Force office, saying: “I am very sure if Mr. Speaker makes just an appearance at theses offices, those people will get their freedom.”

    Some of their placards read among others: ‘Lagos Assembly, stop making laws that are anti-people, and ‘Ban Tokunbo, ban democracy’ etc.

    Ikuforiji responded: “I want to reassure you that the House is yours, members are there to represent your interests and needs. Whatever we do is done as a result of the power you repose in us. I also believe as you have said that power belongs to the people.”

    He said he would set up a team of his colleagues to visit the Taskforce office to ascertain if there are truly innocent people detained, adding that after getting the report, he would do the needful.

  • Fashola offers 3,311 LASTMA, KAI officials permanent employment

    AT last they had cause to smile. For over 10 years, officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) pressurised the state government to streamline their employment and confirm them as public servants.

    Yesterday, Governor Babatunde Fashola gave them a befitting Christmas gift. He offered the 3,311 ad-hoc officers permanent employment in the state public service. They are now free to proudly carry the epithet of civil servants.

    With the employment, Fashola said the government would no longer tolerate extortion and indiscipline by men of both agencies.

    He said anyone caught would be dismissed.

    The governor also unveiled plans to set up the Lagos State Law Enforcement Institute to regulate the activities of LASTMA and KAI, as well as train their officials.

    Speaking at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, Fashola gave three Special Traffic Mayors; Mr. Anthony Edewor, Mr. Salisu Adamu and Mr. Salisu Audu employment offers for making input to traffic control.

    Explaining the rationale of the reforms, which he said had been on-going in the last two years Governor Fashola notede that the reform was tailored to redevelop and furnish all the 30 offices of LASTMA and KAI, adding that the officials “work in very difficult condition.”

  • LASTMA, KAI sensitise the public

    Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) have been carrying out social projects aimed at sensitising the public about the agency’s new image.It is conducting a career evaluation training as a boost.

    Members of Group D of the third batch, who had just completed the training, were at the Chicken George Junction, Mushin where they joined hands with other members of the public in cleaning the environment.

    The group leader, Atiti Joseph, said their objective was to educate the public on traffic matters, maintaining good attitude on the road, and the dangers of road side trading.

    “This programme is mainly to correct the impression of the public because they accuse us of humiliating them.It will also show them that we are serving them and that we need their utmost cooperation. And to let them know on how to be road-friendly,” he said.

    Also, the group’s secretary, Ladipo Olatunbosun, said the programme is the agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility. “We want to be as friendly as possible and even when there is no law enforcement official in a place, people would maintain the law and order. We want people to see us as their friend and not as bad people,” he said, adding that the group is self-funded and does not rely on government for the needed fund.