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Tag: LASTMA

  • LASTMA launches 23 tow vehicles to tackle gridlock

    When the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) went on a road show with its 23 tow trucks, the intention was not to scare motorists, many of who dread the agency’s officials.

    Rather, it was to demonstrate its enhanced capacity to decongest traffic and get motorists moving in record time.

    The vehicles, which are of various capacities, will help reduce the 40 million manhour said to have been lost to accidents, traffic gridlocks and delays, last year.

    LASTMA’s Deputy Comptroller Mr. Philip Ogunlade told The Nation that the agency would key into the vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who on Wednesday, urged it to stop harassing motorists.

    He said the trucks would assist the agency to improve on traffic flow by the speedy removal of broken down vehicles, adding that this would enhance the implementation of traffic laws.

    According to Ogunlade, LASTMA has also embarked on reforms to reposition the agency.

    He said the agency has continued to improve its human and institutional capacity for an accident-free and unimpeded flow of traffic in the state.

    The agency had been incapacitated in the past in this area because of its relevance on privately owned tow trucks which were often ineffective and inadequate.

    That was why former Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola invested in the rehabilitation of the vehicles which had been grounded for years.

    The LASTMA chief said the agency has embarked on human capacity training to ensure seamless traffic flow.

    He said: “Our personnel have undergone local and overseas trainings in order to improve traffic management efficiency and service delivery. This is coupled with other trainings on good conduct; inter-personal relationship, quick response to road safety and emergency and having a knowledge of the law.”

    These trainings were responsible for the new found relationship between the agency, stakeholders and motoring public and an improved motorists’ voluntary compliance with traffic laws.

    LASTMA’s Provost Marshal Mr Biliamin Apena said many departments have been re-organised, repackaged, upgraded and equipped with state- of- the- art facilities to improve their efficiency.

    Apena, who confirmed that the agency’s image is still being soiled by some of its officers, said LASTMA has sufficient rules to deal with bad eggs.

    He said: “At all our trainings or seminars, the attention of our men are drawn to the state traffic laws, the criminal code and the Nigerian Constitution. We have also being sanctioning our men and between 2003 and last year, over 400 LASTMA officers were either disciplined, sanctioned or prosecuted.”

    Apena said adequate provisions are in place to take care of the welfare of all its officers adding that they now work in a serene work environment to boost officers’ morale.

    The government, he said, have also placed premium on traffic officers’ safety and security through the provision of insurance and welfare package while an annual award was instituted to appreciate dedicated staff.    He said many were dismissed for various acts that were at variance with the state Civil Service rules and regulations.

    The Head of Recovery Department Mr Henry Akintomide said the refurbished tow vehicles would boost the agency‘s capacity to remove broken down vehicles from the roads, help ensure safety, free flow of and improve service delivery.

    He urged public to respect traffic law and cooperate with traffic officers.

    He also urged aggrieved motorists to make use of LASTMA’s feedback mechanism to lodge complaints against any infraction against any LASTMA officers. “Such would be treated with despatch and without fear or favour,”Akintomide said.

  • Govt sanctions 25 erring LASTMA officials

    Govt sanctions 25 erring LASTMA officials

    No fewer than 25 officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been sanctioned, Lagos State Solicitor General, Lawal Pedro (SAN) said.

    Pedro said the erring officers of the agency appeared before the disciplinary committee in his Ministry for various offenses which includes irregular issuance of fine tickets, refusal to put on uniform while on duty, illegal extortion of money from motorists, performing unauthorised duty, engaging the services of non-staff to drive an apprehended vehicle, among others.

    He said all the erring officers found guilty of various offences which include official misconduct and illegal practices have been sanctioned accordingly

    Pedro said government would no longer tolerate unruly behaviour, indiscipline, corrupt practices and disobedience to lawful orders by the traffic officers, charging them to henceforth desist from practices that could damage the reputation of the government.

    According to him, the era of indiscipline and impunity in the agency is over.

    He warned that henceforth, any officer found wanting will not go unpunished

    Pedro said government has re-branded the agency to serve the public better.

    The agency, he said, is now to be known as the Lagos State Law Enforcement (Traffic) Officer, adding that it will now operate under the Ministry of Justice.

  • Police clear LASTMA on reporter’s accident

    Police clear LASTMA on reporter’s accident

    A police inspector who was at the scene where a trailer ran over Rasheed Abubakar, an Entertainment Reporter with a softsell journal, Encomium, has cleared officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) of any wrongdoing.

    The inspector who spoke on condition of anonymity said the trailer’s driver was not pursued by LASTMA officials.

    According to him, the driver did not even know he hit someone until a driver of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) blocked him and alerted the police.

    “The victim,” he said, “alighted from a bus and was hit by the back tyres of the trailer unknown to the driver.”

    Corroborating the police reports, Mr Ishaq Abubakar, an elder brother to the victim said some people who witnessed the incident made statements similar to the police version.

    Abubakar, a staff of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) who spoke with Rasheed 20 minutes before the accident said LASTMA officials were not culpable.

    “I called him (Rasheed) that morning; he told me he was about leaving office. 20 minutes later, he called to say he just had accident. I immediately rushed down to Ojota. People there told me how it happened before I joined the ambulance that took him from one hospital beside Eleganza to Gbagada,” he said.

    Reacting to the latest development, LASTMA Public Relations Officer, Bola Ajao, thanked The Nation for painstaking efforts to unravel the truth.

    “We still stand on our policy to deal with whoever is found culpable but thank God none of our officers was involved in the incident. Like I said last week, the agency is not going to shield anybody,” she said.

    “Going by the series of training our officers have gone through, we believe they are adequately orientated on what is expected of them on roads. They are trained to be humane but firm with commuters,” she said.

    The LASTMA image maker enjoined the public not to mistake men in mufti for LASTMA, saying that all LASTMA officials have been warned to always put on their uniforms while on duty.

  • 500 LASTMA officers for APC rally

    500 LASTMA officers for APC rally

    The Lagos State government has said it will deploy 500 officers of the StateTraffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to mange traffic today at the presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa, in a statement yesterday, said the rally would attract huge traffic on Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Surulere and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, venue of the rally.

    “The Lagos State government will deploy all possible traffic management measures, including 500 LASTMA personnel, for this particular event to ensure minimum disruption to motorists and party members coming for the rally. The early morning traffic will not be affected likewise the afternoon traffic.

    “Priority will be given to pedestrians and mass transit vehicles conveying people to the rally.   Vehicular traffic (non-rally related) would be diverted from Funsho Williams at Ojuelegba towards Itire to link Ogunlana Drive to connect Eko Bridge via Bode Thomas, Eric Moore and Adelabu as at when necessary.

    “While from Eko Bridge, traffic would be diverted to Ojuelegba, Agege Motor Road and Ikorodu Road via Costain, Eric Moore, Bode Thomas, Adelabu and Ogunlana Drive, Itire Road, Mabo, Fashoro and Bishop Street all in Surulere or better still motorists are advised to use the Third Mainland Bridge.”

    He urged commuters to tune in to Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1 FM for traffic information every 15 minutes to get update on the traffic situation.

  • Union begs motorists over traffic gridlock

    Union begs motorists over traffic gridlock

    PETROL Tanker Drivers (PTD) have appealed to motorists and road users, to bear with the gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

    They blamed the traffic jam on the influx of petroleum tankers into Lagos following the scarcity of petroleum products in many depots across the country.

    According to Comrade Adebayo Atanda, National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Union (NUPENG) PTD, the causes of the gridlock were being addressed by the union in concert with Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials and other traffic agencies.

    He said the tankers coming to Lagos to avoid shortage of petroleum products in any part of the country, because of the coming Christmas.

    Atanda said PTD National Chairman Comrade Sulaimon Oladiti, had directed zonal officers headed by Comrade Razaq Akanbi to minimize hardship on the road.

    The Akanbi-led task force, he said, was working with LASTMA to ease the traffic jam.

    His said: “We are therefore assuring all road users, motorists and residents of the area that the situation would soon be brought under control,” Atanda said.

  • Remembering a good man

    Remembering a good man

    The fifth year remembrance of the Elegushi of Ikateland, Kusenla II, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, was held on Sunday at the Elegushi Palace in Eti-Osa, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI was there. 

    THERE is something about royalty–class. When it has to do with royalty, you are sure to find dignitaries. And so it was at the Elegushi Palace in Ikate, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, last Sunday. Political giants, captains of industry and the royalty were there in their numbers.

    Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)officials had a hectic time controlling traffic around the Ikate Elegushi Bus stop on Lekki-Ajah express way.

    The Palace of the Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III was hosting the fifth year remembrance of the late Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Yekini Adeniyi Elegushi, Kusenla II.

    The late monarch, whose reign heralded the transformation of Ikate, joined his ancestors on November 17, 2009. He was 69.

    He was a descendant of the Elegushi Royal Family, which roots were traced to Kusenla,  a descendant of King Olofin of Iddo. Olofin’s other descendants, known in history as the Idejo chiefs, were the autonomous rulers of their  territories. They were, and still are, the landowners of Lagos and its adjoining districts.

    Kusenla was given land at Egbere, which is known for the growth of the Ikate tree. Kusenla, therefore, became known as owner of lkate – EIegushi of lkate.

    Itinerant drummers sang the praises of kings and other guests as they entered the palace. They were rewarded handsomely. Some women also made money from clipping ribbons on people’s chest.

    About 20 small tents with tables and chairs were arranged on the streets leading to the palace’s pavilion. They were decorated in red, white and gold colours. There were two large tents for dignitaries on the open grounds beside the palace. Gold chairs covered in white net material were set around the tables which had gold overlays and white vases containing gold, green and white flowers. There were beautiful artificial trees around the tents. The tree trunks were white with sparkling gold branches. The colourful lightings around the tents  complemented the aesthetics of the arena. Projectors and flat screens were at strategic points. Standing fans blew cool air.

    Many of the guests wore the red, brown, black and yellow Ankara fabric chosen for the occasion. Most of the women made a fashion statement with their yellow head gear. The men donned yellow and black striped caps.

    The ceremony started with prayers  conducted by clerics from Alamani Society of Nigeria. It was anchored by the duo of Alhaji Muritado Mahyahshau and Alhaji Alefa Abdulahi Taru.

    Oba Elegushi entered in style – with other monarchs and their Oloris (queens). Guests rose to honour them till they took their seats at the front row. The Oba looked charming in the uniform Ankara; he had royal beads on his neck, a horse tail in his hand and wore a black pair of shoes and sunshade.

    Alhaji Waliu Ajikobi said the opening prayer at 12.44pm.

    Ustadh Sulaimon AbdulMumuni recited the Quaran and thanksgiving followed.

    In a lecture, Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa, said “we only know when we came to this world but we don’t know when and how we will leave; “He said people must serve God with all that they have and also be of good character.

    He asked: “What is left after death? How will you present yourself before God?

    Onikijipa urged the guests to leave a worthy legacy, saying the deceased did well.

    Sheikh Onikijipa went on: “Hold on to God and let Him be with you always. Train your children well; what they will do after your death is one of the things God will use to judge you.

    “Develop a good character and serve God. You will account for how you got and spent all the money you have.”

    All Progressives Congress (APC)leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu entered while the lecture was on. He smiled and waved to guests as he greeted those in the front row and the clerics on the high table.

    After the lecture, Sheikh Onikijipa prayed for the deceased and his family.

    At the reception outside the palace, there were about 20 serving points.

    King of Fuji music Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe (KWAM1) entertained guests.

    DeeJay Baggio and the Ultimate Life Band also entertained guests. The reception was anchored by the movie star, Saidi Balogun and Arogundade Taofeeq, a.k.a Imaliah Boy II.

    Tinubu described the deceased as his confidant, friend and not just an Oba.

    “I miss him dearly for his good deeds and I wish the new Oba Elegushi would supersede the good life his father lived,” he said.

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker  Adeyemi Ikuforiji described the late Oba Elegushi as a father to all.

    Ikuforiji said the deceased stood by the government.

    “He was a father to each and every one of us and he was a man of respect,” he said.

    Oba Idowu Oniru of Iruland described the deceased as a man of many parts who was dear to him.

    “I miss him greatly; he was a sincere man, hardworking and straight forward,” he said.

    The Ojomu of Ajiranland, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, said he would always remember the deceased for his outspokenness, willingness to promote and project the image of Eti Osa and for continuing to plan its development.

    One of the late monarch’s wife , Olori Senatu Titilayo, described him as a good man whose name would always be mentioned when talking about the history of Eti-Osa.

    “People will always talk about his good works which we are all reaping from today,” she said.

    The third wife of the deceased, Olori Modinat Omotilewa, said he was her mentor whose presence was always noticed wherever he went. She said he was a cheerful giver who she can never forget.

    “He was always helping people,” she said.

    Another wife of the deceased, Olori Ganiat Omowunmi, said he was “a real and solid” man.

    “When he ascended the throne as Oba, the ancient town of Ikate was transformed to a modern town; a lot of people were influenced by him to buy and develop their land,” she said.

  • Vacate all Federal roads, Fed Task Force orders LASTMA

    As it gears up to take over traffic management on all federal roads, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P)/FERMA Federal Task Force has directed the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to vacate all federal roads in the state. It said any attack on his men may spark a row with the Federal Government.

    It said LASTMA should respect the 2004 court ruling which said that its jurisdiction does not extend to federal roads in the state.

    Speaking in his office last week, the National Coordinator of the Task Force Alhaji Abdulrazak Rafiu-Otto, said LASTMA should allow his officers and men to perform the duties for which they were employed. He stated that the men’s duties were the management and maintainance of traffic across all federal roads in Lagos and the recovery of all Federal Government properties and infrastructure in the state.

    Rafiu-Otto, who insisted that the Task Force has nothing against LASTMA, appealed that the latter stay off federal roads and concentrate efforts of its officers and men to ridding the state roads of the traffic gridlock that is intractable in the state. He said his agency would be willing to collaborate with LASTMA in the overall objective of riding the state of gridlocks.

    Wondering why the state government would raise a false alarm on the activities of his men, Rafiu-Otto said the agency was not illegal, as it was created by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the SURE-P initiative which has provided jobs for thousands of Nigerian youths.

    He said there is no truth in the allegations that the Task Force is a band of political thugs recruited to prosecute the 2015 election, saying such claims was aimed at causing violence and confusion.

    He said “The officers recruited by the Federal Task Force are not thugs, but unemployed graduates and adults looking for a means of livelihood and they all appreciated that the empowerment is already yielding fruits.” He wondered why the Federal Government has not ejected them from its premises at the old toll gate site if they were illegal.

    He said arrangements are almost concluded to have President Jonathan inaugurate the Federal Task Force and deploy them to all federal roads across the country.

    “This would be perfected in a matter of weeks. What we are all waiting for is the necessary basic support from the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the Civil Defence and all other security agencies to work with the newly established body,” Rafiu-Otto said.

  • Vacate all Federal roads, Fed Task Force orders LASTMA

    Vacate all Federal roads, Fed Task Force orders LASTMA

    As it gears up to take over traffic management on all federal roads, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P)/FERMA Federal Task Force has directed the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to vacate all federal roads in the state. It said any attack on his men may spark a row with the Federal Government.

    It said LASTMA should respect the 2004 court ruling which said that its jurisdiction does not extend to federal roads in the state.

    Speaking in his office last week, the National Coordinator of the Task Force Alhaji Abdulrazak Rafiu-Otto, said LASTMA should allow his officers and men to perform the duties for which they were employed. He stated that the men’s duties were the management and maintainance of traffic across all federal roads in Lagos and the recovery of all Federal Government properties and infrastructure in the state.

    Rafiu-Otto, who insisted that the Task Force has nothing against LASTMA, appealed that the latter stay off federal roads and concentrate efforts of its officers and men to ridding the state roads of the traffic gridlock that is intractable in the state. He said his agency would be willing to collaborate with LASTMA in the overall objective of riding the state of gridlocks.

    Wondering why the state government would raise a false alarm on the activities of his men, Rafiu-Otto said the agency was not illegal, as it was created by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the SURE-P initiative which has provided jobs for thousands of Nigerian youths.

    He said there is no truth in the allegations that the Task Force is a band of political thugs recruited to prosecute the 2015 election, saying such claims was aimed at causing violence and confusion.

    He said “The officers recruited by the Federal Task Force are not thugs, but unemployed graduates and adults looking for a means of livelihood and they all appreciated that the empowerment is already yielding fruits.” He wondered why the Federal Government has not ejected them from its premises at the old toll gate site if they were illegal.

    He said arrangements are almost concluded to have President Jonathan inaugurate the Federal Task Force and deploy them to all federal roads across the country.

    “This would be perfected in a matter of weeks. What we are all waiting for is the necessary basic support from the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the Civil Defence and all other security agencies to work with the newly established body,” Rafiu-Otto said.

  • Anger over SURE-P, FERMA N1b rip-off

    Anger over SURE-P, FERMA N1b rip-off

    Thousands of job seekers across the country are alleging a massive rip-off by two agencies of the federal government which lured them into parting with over N30,000 each.

    The job applicants accused the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and SURE-P of making them part with the money on the promise of employing them in a Federal Task Force.

    Thirty thousand graduates are believed to have paid the money, bringing the total to N900,000.

    Investigation showed that none of the applicants has been deployed since their enlistment last December. They have not been paid either.

    Some of the affected people told The Nation that they were made to pay for uniform, enrolment forms, medicals and data capturing among others.

    They said the recruiters told them that they would be controlling traffic on federal roads across the 36 states.

    But instead of the promised traffic control job, the applicants, according to investigation by The Nation at some of the centres, are being used by the PDP as security and protocol personnel at its rallies and programmes across the country.

    Unable to cope with regular invitations to rallies and drilling sessions while not being paid salaries or allowances, some of the applicants have opted out.

    The situation has not stopped more people from applying, sources said.

    One applicant said: “I applied for the programme in January this year. Since then, I’ve paid N32, 500 for uniforms that I am yet to get. I also paid N2, 200 for the enrolment form. All I’ve got so far is a letter enlisting me as part of a FERMA/SURE-P empowerment programme.

    “My friend even paid N10, 2000 for what they called late form. But no employment letter has been given to me yet.”

    Some of them sighted at the Ojota office of the Task Force in Lagos said they are made to report there daily for drills and trainings.

    “None of us has been given any job. This is the ninth month. We have paid so much. We even paid for medical. This T-Shirt and fez cap, we bought them for N2, 500 each. We also paid for another form called traffic form. Some people have spent more than N50,000 but I’ve only spent about N40, 000,” another applicant said.

    Asked why they go round the country to be part of political rallies, another applicant said the recruiters said it is necessary to remind the President that they are still waiting for his approval for their postings.

    “They say we must go and parade at every rally where the president is present so as to remind him that we are still waiting for his approval. They say it is only when that approval comes that we will be posted to various federal roads across the country.

    “They even promised we will take over the control of all federal roads in Lagos from the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA). Sometimes we even control traffic along the expressway here at Ojota and at Shangisha area. We do this for free because we are not being paid yet,” he added.

    But promoters of the programme claim the federal government granted approval to the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to set up a task force to maintain traffic on the federal roads.

    They said upon a go ahead from the presidency, the organisation will deploy its men on federal roads in the state to maintain law and order because the Act setting up SURE-P/FERMA empowers it to carry out such civic responsibility on federal roads.

    “There is hope. It is only opposition politicians that are trying to discredit the programme. Officers are yet to be posted because the agencies are still working on the salary structure and scope for the programme. As soon as that is done, officers will be posted to different federal roads in the state.

    A graduate should get no less than N80, 000 as monthly salary when we are ready to roll out; but as the salary structure and scope are still being deliberated upon, one may have to exercise patience. For all potential SURE-P/ FERMA officers, patience is the word for now,” an official at the Lagos office told our correspondent.

    Speaking on the controversies surrounding the programme, Abdul Razak Rafiu Otto, a chieftain of the PDP who is also the National Coordinator of the Federal Task Force, said the programme is legal and in conformity with the laws of the land.

    “This programme has been in existence for the past three years now and it was set up by the Federal Government to further make the people feel its impact more. We are not out to deceive anybody. Whatever we are doing is legal and we are bound by the law of the country.

    “The question one should ask people making this insinuation is: did the President complain to you that we are doing illegal things here? Did the State Security Service, SSS, complain about our activities? This is a federal government programme for all states.

    “We are not just in this state we are  in all the 36 states of the federation, including Abuja. So, I don’t see why anybody will be talking about deceiving people here,” he said.

  • Road accidents will remain high if…(3)

    • Government (Federal and States) must adequately fund their road and traffic management agencies to ensure the availability of all the infrastructure  and equipment needed to facilitate safety and security on all roads in Nigeria both in the day and in the night. How long will it take us to be among the countries with good roads, safety cameras on highways, Breathalyzer or Alcolizers for detecting drunk or drugged Drivers, Middle and Side road markings, adequate and appropriate road traffic signs among others?

    • Regular Transport and Safety Conference – There is a need for an annual conference of all Stakeholders by the Federal Ministry of Transport where all issues touching road safety will be regularly addressed for input into the Federal, states and local government programmes to further enhance safety and security on Nigeria roads. I am very confident that if the above and allied issues are looked into without bias by the Federal and state governments and other agencies, there will be drastic reduction in the rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities thereby improving the global rating of Nigeria.

    • Inattention to other road users – As at today in Nigeria, there has been no serious focus on the training and re – raining of motorcycle (Okada) and tricycle (KeKe NAPEP) riders. Without doubt, these categories of the mode of transportation carry the highest volume of passengers in some parts of every state in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory. They also have the highest rate of accidents and fatalities. Why then are the governments not taking proactive actions to prevent these loses? The ban of okada from the cities and their replacement with tricycles are mere policy decorations or rhetorics which is far from solving the problems.

    • Imagine a situation where officers of Federal Road Safety Commission, Vehicle Inspection Departments (VIOs), Nigeria Police Force, Traffic Police Officers (Yellow Fever), Highway Patrol Officers, State Traffic Management Officers (LASTMA in Lagos State, TRACE in Ogun State, etc), Military Officers, Joint Task Force, and the state/local government revenue collectors do stop vehicles to check all the particulars and drivers licence with the main goal of extorting money from the drivers and in some cases from the passengers who are traders transporting their goods. Ask some commercial and private drivers on plying intra and inter – state roads how many points they are stopped, checked by the officers of these agencies and drained of money, oftentimes within an interval of less than one kilometer.