The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)

  • LASEMA averts major disaster in Magboro

    LASEMA averts major disaster in Magboro

    What could have turned out to a major disaster in Magboro, Ogun State along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was on Thursday averted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) with salvaging of a 50,000 litres of truck conveying Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol from catching fire.

    The incident occurred during early morning rain when a truck with registration number – Lagos MK88US belonging to MRS skidded off the road and fell on its side into the ditch spilling its content into the area.

    Hundreds of residents of the area had thronged the scene struggling to scoop fuel before they were dispersed with the arrival of the emergency responders and security operatives from Lagos State.

    Speaking at the scene of the incident, General Manager of LASEMA, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu said that the Agency received the distress call at about 9.00am on Thursday through the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    He said LASEMA swiftly intervened and responded by mobilizing all the required personnel and resources to the scene.

    According to him, although the scene of the incident falls outside the jurisdiction of its operation but Governor Akinwunmi Ambode gave express approval for the Agency’s intervention with the use of its heavy-duty equipment and crane.

    The LASEMA boss said the Agency responded promptly with other emergency responders from the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Ogun State Fire Service, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the FRSC, while the truck was carefully lifted up by the Agency’s Crane.

    He said the Lagos Fire Service also carried out blanket of the truck with chemicals to avoid fire outbreak.

    The RRS, according to him, helped to chase people scooping fuel around the area to avoid any fire outbreak, while LASEMA sensitized the people on the danger of storage of fuel.

    The General Manager, however, advised motorist especially articulated truck drivers to avoid over speeding and always adhere to traffic rules and regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and properties on the roads.

     

  • LASTMA declares zero tolerance on violation of traffic laws

    LASTMA declares zero tolerance on violation of traffic laws

    …Urges voluntary compliance by motorists   

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Thursday urged motorists to voluntarily comply with the relevant traffic laws operating in the State, vowing to deal decisively with violators in accordance with the law.

    LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olawale Musa, who stated this after meeting with the Zonal Heads and Commanders at the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi, said the agency was appalled with recent action of some motorists who had formed the habit of flouting traffic laws and disregarding directives of traffic personnel on the roads.

    According to him, such road indiscipline and lawlessness were capable of returning chaos and disorderliness to the roads, warning that LASTMA would not condone it and any motorist caught would be dealt with accordingly.

    He said the agency had been inundated with calls and complaints from spirited members of the public to act decisively on violators of traffic laws, but that it was not uncommon to see motorists disregarding traffic lights, zebra signs and repairing faulty vehicles on main carriage ways.

    Musa assured members of the public that LASTMA had heeded their calls, and sanity would be maintained, as the agency would not allow a few disgruntled motorists to truncate the existing sanity, safety, peace and orderliness being enjoyed on the roads by commuters and members of the public.

    He said contrary to opinions being peddled in some quarters, LASTMA has never relented or relaxed in performing its statutory responsibilities, but only observed a re-engineering process that gave birth to the new approach to traffic law enforcement in Lagos State.

    “With this rebirth, traffic officials are now to function on the principles of civility, respect for motorists’ rights, officers’ discipline and zero tolerance for corruption,” Musa said.

    He regretted that despite various efforts to manage and enforce traffic laws in line with the best global practices, many motorists are flouting the laws.

    Musa said while the agency will intensify enforcement, traffic officials have been instructed to operate within the ambit of laws, and be humane in dealing with motorists.

    He, therefore, urged motorists to imbibe and demonstrate the culture of voluntary compliance with traffic laws on the road.

    The agency has also commenced imposing strict sanctions on recalcitrant drivers especially in Ojodu Berger and other parts of the state who have converted the newly constructed lay-bys into motor parks.

  • Nine die, 10 injured in Lagos accident

    Nine die, 10 injured in Lagos accident

    Nine persons including four children were on Friday morning confirmed dead after a commercial bus collided with a truck in Lagos.

    This is just as 10 other occupants of the Toyata Hiace bus from Katsina marked KT 715YG sustained varying injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

    Although the incident occurred at Fadeyi bus stop on Ikorodu road at about 5am, The Nation gathered that it caused heavy traffic congestion on the expressway.

    It was learnt that the bus driver was over speeding and lost control, hitting a covert.

    The vehicle, it was learnt somersaulted and veered to the other side of the road, ramming into a heavy duty truck marked GGE715YG.

    It took the intervention of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the police, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), LASAMBUS, some passersby to rescue some of the victims trapped in the vehicle.

    Confirming the accident, the General Manager LASEMA Michael Akindele said it was caused by carelessness.

    “A total number of nine people lost their lives in the incident. Five adult (four male and a female) and four children (two male, two female).

    10 others sustained injuries and were taken to the Emergency Trauma Centre at the Toll Gate.

    “Drivers should be cautious and avoid over speeding as well as comply with road traffic code to prevent unnecessary accident leading to loss of lives,” he said.