LASTMA, FERMA and road safety
SIR: It is no longer news that, the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) has been banned from operating on federal roads in Lagos State. So many things have been said and written about the real intention behind this. What is therefore news is how far the FMW/FERMA squad has been able to control the chaotic traffic situation in Lagos metropolis.
Due to the recent ban, danfo and molue drivers are now back to their usual habit of driving against the traffic and picking passengers at awkward points on the ever busy roads and if the development is anything to go by, there is no doubt that the officers and men of LASTMA have done well in the areas of traffic control, removal of broken down and accident vehicles from the road notwithstanding at times their shortcomings and excesses.
It is very unfortunate that the Honourable Minister of Works has left what he is supposed to be doing and is now concentrating on what he is not supposed to be doing. If the desire of the minister is to make life comfortable for the citizens of this country, I think that, by now he should have ordered the immediate removal of all those trailers parked at Ogere and Mowe along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. As at Sunday, July 18, these trailers had virtually reduced the dual carriageway at these points to a single narrow way, thus posing serious danger to motorists.
Or is it that this portion of the road belongs to the Ogun State government Even the officials of the FRSC who are always on patrol on this route are more interested in operating show your particulars with N100 than the safety of lives and property.
Considering the achievements of LASTMA, KAI, Highway Managers, LAMATA, Drain Ducker, The Ambulance Services and the emergency road points, I think that Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu deserves a pat on the back rather than frustration and witch-hunting by the agents of the Federal Government.
One thing the minister should know is that the battle to occupy Alausa Road House in 2007 can never be fought on the pages on newspapers but rather with tactics, strategy and wisdom. And that, his recent decision to ban the educated, well-dressed and well-equipped LASTMA officials from federal roads and replace them with the poorly dressed FERMA squad leaves much to be desired.
Ojo Akinyogbon,
Lagos.
