The Nation Newspaper

Tag: motorists

  • Lawmaker urges motorists to comply with traffic law

    Lawmaker urges motorists to comply with traffic law

    A Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Segun Olulade has called on motorists to obey traffic law to curb incessant gridlock.

    Olulade, who was reacting to complaints of some Lagosians on the persistent traffic jam, said some drivers have become lawless, wrongly taking advantage of the pronouncement by the Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, that the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) should stop impounding vehicles.

    The lawmaker, representing Epe Constituency 2, stated that the governor’s statement was not made to make drivers become disobedient to the traffic law which is still in place.

    ”Lagosians, especially motorists, commuters and every other road user should understand that the traffic law was passed by the state House of Assembly and was signed into law by the executive arm and this law is still very much in place. To this end, everyone must be civilised and obey the law.

    ”The governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in his wisdom, has urged men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to stop impounding vehicles because he believes so much in doing things in a civilised manner.

    ”In civilised societies, you will never see traffic officers running after a motorist or jump into someone’s vehicle all because that person committed a traffic offence. That is where Lagos State is going; it shouldn’t be until LASTMA officials entered into our vehicles that we will obey traffic rules.

    ”All road users should learn to obey traffic rules and be civilised while on the road. The fact that the governor made that pronouncement that no vehicle should be impounded doesn’t mean we should start breaking the laws,” he said.

    Olulade, however, urged men of the LASTMA to continue the good works they have been doing by enforcing the law and coordinating movement of vehicles on Lagos roads, just as he appealed to motorists to continue to be orderly and obey traffic officers.

    ”LASTMA officials and police shouldn’t stop the enforcement of the laws; they should ensure that they use best practices in the discharge of their duties.  We should all remember that the government is doing everything to ensure that issue of traffic is addressed, so we must cooperate with government in order to achieve this,” he added.

     

  • Lagos moves against lawless motorists

    Lagos moves against lawless motorists

    Lagos state Government has reiterated its commitment to ensure absolute enforcement of the state traffic laws owing to the increasing traffic gridlock on the roads.

    It has promised that lawless motorists found culpable would be prosecuted.

    This was disclosed at a joint press briefing addressed by Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Mr. Seyi Whenu; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works Engineer Ajibade Adebowale; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment Mr. Toyin Onisarotu, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information Mr. Folarin Adeyemi as well as the General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Bashir Braimoh which held at at Bagauda Kalto Press Center Wednesday.

    According to them, investigations by agencies of the state government revealed that the increasing traffic gridlock being experienced across the state is not unconnected with the misinterpretation of the instruction of Governor Ambode when he said enforcement of the state traffic laws be done with human face and total courtesy.

    The permanent secretaries explained that the governor’s instruction should not be misinterpreted as relaxation of enforcement, saying anyone caught violating the state traffic law would be prosecuted.

    According to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works; Mr. Adebowale, “the state government is not unaware of the traffic gridlock that is increasing in the state in recent time but most of the gridlocks are caused by massive construction and rehabilitation of roads that is going on and measures are being put in place to check mate this.

    “We have also called on all the contractors to double efforts and ensure speedy completion of the roads so that people would not have to suffer and endure the hardship for long.”

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information, Mr. Folarin Adeyim; revealed at the briefing that over 500 traffic offenders have been booked and fined so far, just as he said the state government through LASTMA would continue to ensure sanity and free flow traffic on Lagos roads.

    Folarin said: “On enforcement, I want to tell you that over 500 road traffic offenders have been ticketed till date. The officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) are on the road enforcing the state traffic laws diligently. They are not disgruntled in anyway.”

  • Be civil to motorists, LASTMA GM tells men

    Be civil to motorists, LASTMA GM tells men

    Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) new General Manager Mr Bashir Braimah yesterday urged his men to be civil to motorists.

    The officers, he said, should always work within the law.

    Braimah was addressing senior officers at the authority’s Oshodi, Lagos headquarters.

    He reaffirmed his commitment to professionalism through human capacity building, saying competence, commitment and concerns should be the personnel’s watchword.

    The LASTMA chief urged officers to devise scientific methods of unlocking traffic gridlocks and refrain from the old practice of chasing vehicles.

    “Gone are the days of impunity, indiscipline and extortion of money from motorists. All negative vices capable of damaging the image of the government should be done away it,” warned Braimah, who before his appointment was Director, Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture.

    According to him, LASTMA will achieve a lot when its officers are dedicated to duty.

    When traffic flows, he said, motorists would burn less fuel, save energy and time, adding that insecurity would be eliminated.

    This will have a multiplier effect on the state economy, because savings will lead to investment, he said.

    Braimah remind his men that Lagos is the economic hub of Nigeria and West Africa thereby making it imperative for traffic management to be in line with best global practices.

    Braimah replaces Babatunde Edu, an engineer, who held the post.

  • Police to arrest unauthourised users of siren

    Police to arrest unauthourised users of siren

    The Nigeria Police Force said in Abuja on Tuesday that it would arrest any person not listed in the categories of persons authourised to use siren in the country.

    It would be recalled that the Federal Government had in 2012 listed the categories of persons entitled to use siren.

    They are; President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, their deputies, state governors and service chiefs.

    Others are: the Inspector-General of Police, General Officers Commanding, Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), as well as Commissioners of Police.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the police would rely on the government circular on use of siren.

    “We will still go by the Federal government circular in implementing the directive,“ Kolawole said.

    She said that the rate at which siren was being used in the country had reduced drastically because of the efforts of the police.

    Kolawole warned that the police would not hesitate to arrest any unauthourised persons found using the siren.

    “The police will not relent in their effort to carry out their duty,“ she said.

    She stressed that the police would always be on its guard to enforce law and order in the country.

    “I just want to let you know that this current police administration will not condone any act of public disorder, “ she said.

    She urged motorists not to pay money for permit for the use of vehicles with tinted glasses, as it was free.

    Kolawole said that the only authourity with the sole right to issue the permit were; the Inspector-General of Police and state commissioners of police.

    She advised motorists to take advantage of the whistle blowing platform opportunity to report to the police any personnel who demanded money from them.

    “We are saying that if people were paying before they should not do that any longer, “ she said.

     

  • VIO to motorists: Remain alert while driving

    VIO to motorists: Remain alert while driving

    Musa Dagara of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Abuja, on Tuesday advised motorists in the territory to maintain high level of concentration and alertness while driving.

    Dagara said doing such would go a long way in reducing the spate of accidents on the roads.

    He also advised drivers to avoid making phone calls while on the wheels, and to regulate their speed.

    “We always advise drivers to ensure that they maintain high degree of alertness and concentration while on the wheels.

    “We observe that some drivers go as far as making phone calls and even browsing on their mobile phones while driving.

    “This is very dangerous and it exposes them to accidents on the roads, “he said.
    Dagara spoke against the backdrop of a ghastly car crash which occurred at the bridge before Wuse 2 , recently

    “The course of the accident was speeding and dangerous overtaking by the driver.

    “Such accidents are avoidable if drivers are more careful and obey traffic regulations,’’ he said.

    He added that three occupants of the Ford Sports car involved in the accident were critically injured and were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abuja

  • FERMA assures Akwa Ibom motorists of zero potholes

    The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has assured motorist plying federal roads in Akwa Ibom State of motorable roads in line with the federal government commitment in making its road safe across the country.

    FERMA’s Zonal Coordinator, Southsouth , Mr. Young Harry, gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen after inspecting ongoing rehabilitation works along Calaba-Itu road.

    According to him, government commitment to zero pot holes on its roads was irrevocable, calling on motorist plying this busy route to bear with the agency as every effort is being put to make pot holes free.

    Mostly affected roads are Ikot Ekpene-Itu-Cross River state boarder and the Eket-Ikot Abasi road.

    His words: “The activities being carried out include, patching of potholes, desilting of silted concrete lined drains, filling of failed sections with boulders and reinstatement of embankment washout.”

    The Calabar-Itu road constructed in the 70s, he noted needed total rehabilitation, adding however that, in line with FERMA’s mandate, they would ensure that they intervene to make the road motorable road users.

    Fielding questions, he explained that, as an interventionist agency, where any portion of the road is completely bad, the attention of the federal ministry of works would be drawn to it.

    The agency, he added, has been trying to meet its obligations based on available funds, adding that, with expected high funding, road users would soon smile.

    He said: “The Agency will continue the maintenance activities throughout them raining season to ensure that all the federal roads in Akwa Ibom state are motorable and safe for road users.”

     

  • Motorists lament increase in traffic robberies

    Motorists lament increase in traffic robberies

    Lagosians have called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to urgently address robberies during traffic gridlock in the metropolis.

    They also urged the governor to work on the bad portions of the roads which often led to the traffic gridlock.

    Those who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that they had lost valuables and were at times maimed by the hoodlums.

    The hoodlums often seized advantage of the slow movement of the traffic to rob unsuspecting motorists and their passengers.

    The robbers employed various modes for their operations, including using motorcycles whereby two persons rode on a motor bike; while one gets down to rob motorists, the other waits to zoom off with him after the robbery.

    At times, one of them would pretend to be crossing the road only to get the driver to stop, others immediately swooped on the driver and passengers.

    Also, they lied to the driver that his tyre had gone down or that his fuel tank was leaking just to get him stopped.

    Narrating their experiences, some of the victims said they were helpless as there were no security agents at sight.

    A trader who pleaded anonymity said three hoodlums tried to rob her around 8p.m. at Odo Iya Alaro in Maryland.

    “The hoodlums after tapping at my door glass for me to wind down still took their time to follow my car as I had to change lane twice before the road later became free and I zoomed off,’’ she said.

    According to her, she was helpless and started to press the car horn continuously to at least call for help before she was finally able to zoom off.

    One Mr Tony was robbed at Fadeyi area of Ikorodu Road.

    “There was nowhere for me to move to when two of the hoodlums started hitting my door glass at Fadeyi along Ikorodu Road at about 8.30 p.m.

    “I was able to hide my phone but my laptop on the seat behind me and my wristwatch were forcefully taken away,’’ Tony told NAN.

    He urged motorists to be security conscious whenever they were driving at night as no one could predict where the hoodlums would be operating.

    Another victim, one Mr Deji, a banker, said he and his colleagues were attacked while approaching Apongbon around 6a.m. on their way to work.

    He said: “We were four in the car that day when the hoodlums, armed with locally-made guns, threatened to break the glass if we refused to wind down.

    “When it became obvious that there was nowhere to run to they became more aggressive, we had to wind down and release our valuables to them. This was after I was slapped twice by one of them.”

    They urged government to rid the roads of hawkers as many of them were not selling enough articles that could sustain them.

    According to them, such persons might apparently be robbing during traffic, especially at nights to meet their needs.

  • Motorists hail council chief

    Residents, motorists and others have hailed Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Executive Secretary Adeola Dawood Olajobi for the construction of Fasasi Ayinde road in Mafoluku.

    The road, which was hitherto in deplorable condition, has caused users untold hardship.

    While inspecting the road, Olajobi said it was constructed in fulfilment of one of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s cardinal programmes.

    According to him, Ambode enjoined the council bosses to construct at least one road monthly.

    Some motorists hailed the council boss, saying they are now relieved plying the road.

    A motorist, Mrs Yemi Agbolade urged Olajobi to continue the good job.

    The council has also desilted some blocked drainage to avert flood in the area.

    The desilted drainage included Alimi Oke link road, Owoseni Street, Ayo Ni garage in Mafoluku, St. Paul Street, Airport road by 7 and 8 junction lanes.

  • Erring motorists will be sanctioned, says FRSC

    Erring motorists will be sanctioned, says FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday vowed to sanction violators of traffic rules in accordance with existing laws.

    The Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, RS 2.17 Ojota Unit Command, Lagos, Kehinde Hamzat, an Assistant Corps Commander (ACC), handed down the warning following the June 9 assault on an official by a fuel tanker driver, Usman Dauda, opposite its Ojota, Lagos office.

    Usman attempted to evade arrest after his tanker marked LSR 528 XE, belonging to MRS Petroleum, was stopped.

    In anger, he blocked the expressway with his truck between the command’s gate and the nearby motorways.

    On arrival, a patrol team made efforts to ensure easy free traffic flow, but Usman instructed his “motor boy” to “completely block the road” to hinder on-coming vehicles.

    Shouting “no one stops tanker drivers,” he hit a Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked AKD 408 DH by the side. When the owner confronted him, he reportedly slapped the man.

    Usman also attacked a Corps official who wanted to restore order. The official spent five days in hospital. The matter was handled by the Alausa Police Station where operatives waded into the matter.

    Yesterday, the tanker owner, Alhaji Jimoh Toibu of Tawahb Nigeria Limited, wrote a letter of apology to the corps’ Unit Commander, with an undertaking to pay for the damages.

    Like the association of tanker drivers, Toibu dissociated himself from the driver’s unruly act.

     

     

     

  • IG’s ban on checkpoints excites motorists

    IG’s ban on checkpoints excites motorists

    Motorists are excited over the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase’s ban on checkpoints and road blocks.

    They said yesterday that they were now free from “unnecessary traffic and extortion” by policemen.

    Mr Tunde Alaba, a commercial bus driver, said he was happy that checkpoints had been banned.

    “Thank God the checkpoints are reducing, we will now be able to save more money to earn our living,’’ he said.

    Another commercial bus driver, Mr Sadiq Adekunle, said that he was happy over the withdrawal of police checkpoints but complained about the few still existing.

    “It’s a good thing that the police checkpoints are being withdrawn but some policemen still put up their roadblocks in some inner parts of Lagos,’’ he said.

    An engineer, Deji Adeleke, said banning of checkpoints was good since the police had realised that it was causing Lagosians more pain than good.

    “The ban on checkpoints is a good development. I guess the police have now realised that it’s the policemen at the checkpoints that paint a bad image of the force,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, observed that checkpoints were still mounted at nights in some areas.

    At Oshodi, opposite the Nigerian Army Shopping Complex, Arena, at the junction leading to Oshodi Local Government Secretariat, some policemen take advantage of the traffic to extort money from motorists.

    Some experts have argued that the police do not need checkpoints or roadblocks to curb crime.

    Mr Jide Oluwole, a security consultant, said the world had gone beyond setting up roadblocks to check crime.

    “Since it’s certain we can’t be everywhere at the same time, with the use of technology, the crime rate in the state can be minimised,’’ he said.

    Mr Mike Olutayo, Head Operations at Identity Securities, said Close Circuit Television (CCTV) could be installed to monitor crime.

    If those already installed covered Lagos, he said, it could be used with a functional database, adding that the police do not need roadblocks to secure the state.

    But some Lagosians are worried that hoodlums may cash in on the ban to wreck havoc.