LASTMA begins special traffic control for Yuletide
By Felix Kuye
TO ensure safety of lives and free flow of traffic during the forthcoming Sallah, Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) has begun a special operation on the roads.
The agency has deployed motorable patrols in most parts of the metropolis and beyond to identify any accident and other situations that could obstruct smooth flow of traffic and alert the headquarters for prompt action.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of LASTMA, Mr. Yemi Odubela, at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, the traffic officers are expected to work harder and for longer hours during the remaining "ember" months to also ensure that economic activities are not impeded in the metropolis by traffic hitches.
He said the special operation became necessary because during the "ember" months, traffic in Lagos always increase as people from various parts of the country and the neighbouring nations do their Sallah and Christmas shopping in the state.
"About 40 per cent of the vehicles in the country are in Lagos. People also come from our neighbouring countries through roads to do shopping in Lagos during this period of the year. We are gearing up, therefore, to face the challenges of ensuring safety of lives and property, as well as smooth flow of traffic during the time", Odubela said.
At the event also attended by LASTMA Public Relations officers, Mrs. Kasali Abisola, the chief executive appealed to motorists to always obey traffic rules and traffic officers to make the dream a reality.
Odubela also urged members of the public to always be patient with LASTMA, especially when there is an accident by allowing the traffic officers to do their work of quickly restoring smooth flow of traffic. He charged motorists not to drive against the traffic in such situation.
The LASTMA chief, who blamed chaotic traffic in Lagos partly on bad roads, said his agency was working with the Ministry of Works and other relevant authorities to ensure that the conditions of the roads are improved upon.
He admonished the motorists to consider the tight nature of Lagos with limited public parking spaces and ensure that they do not contribute to the chaotic traffic situation in the city.
Odubela blamed the highhandedness of the traffic officials in the past on the negative attitude of some Lagosians to traffic rules, urging members of the public to report any LASTMA official seen carrying out any operation that contradicts the spirit and mandate of the agency.
The LASTMA chief, who assured that necessary disciplinary actions would be taken against any erring official, gave five numbers through which to complaints could be made.
They are 4703325, 08033454045, 743026, 7200067, and 194 (MTS).
