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Complaints mount over dubious Lagos traffic agents
By Nnamdi Inyama, Seye Olumide and
Emeka Emeh
LIKE an army of occupation on a rampaging mission, agents of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and gangs acting at the behest of some local councils spread fear, apprehension and hatred in the minds of the average Lagos motorist.
The FERMA officials in their distinctive white-top and black trouser uniform and the other groups, through their daily conducts on the road have become irritants of sorts, harassing, intimidating and extorting money from unsuspecting motorists.
Stationed on the Federal highways, ostensibly on the orders of Federal Ministry of Works, or state roads (for LASTMA or local councils), their activities have become worrisome and have left many unanswered questions as to their relevance.
And as the days roll by, these men and women too, become more daring and ruthless in their dealings with motorists.
Last week alone, the men and their counterparts in the local councils seemed to have intensified their operations sending pains and anger around the Lagos metropolis. And these officials' activities have continued to elicit an avalanche of complaints and protests from their victims.
A woman on her way to hospital with a feverish eight-year-old child was on Thursday arrested by agents of Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council for "crossing" a lane on the Oshodi-Ilupeju stretch on the service lane.
In tears, she swore she did not know what her offence was as nobody was ready to explain what it was they meant. It was when she threatened to abandon the sick child for them that they dropped their demand that she should pay N5,000 as fine for an offence she did not commit.
Using tricks and lies, they lure unsuspecting victims into makeshift enclosures under fly-overs or within council premises.
Some motorists have accused the officers who seem not to know much about traffic rules, of holding them hostage and forcing them to part with huge sums of money ranging from N500 to NI5,000 on trumped-up charges.
The Guardian investigation revealed that the FERMA, LASTMA and council agents are usually armed with dubious receipts and are accompanied by armed policemen. The regular points of extortion are the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway axis with their agents stationed at the Toyota, Berger-Under Bridge, Coconut Bus Stops, Orile-National Theatre Fly-over axis, Oworonsoki- Ilupeju stretch of the Oshodi- Anthony Expressway and Amuwo-Odofin among other locations in the metropolis.
Some victims of the extortion who spoke to The Guardian said they were tricked into stopping and later accused of violating unspecified traffic regulations.
"They asked me to pay N5,000 initially and later increased to N10,000 and finally to N12,00 for no specified offence. They later gave me back N2,000 after one of the senior officials had told me I did not commit any offence", an expatriate who was arrested at Orile said.
According to a middle-aged man who was arrested at the Toyota Bus Stop "I don't know who brought these touts into the roads. They have become an embarrassment to the government. They should be disbanded or their duties be properly defined to avoid the nuisance they constitute on Lagos roads."
There has been a raging controversy between the Lagos State government and the Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe over which government agency should control the Federal Highways in the state. However, many Lagos residents feel that the presence of traffic officials under different bodies on the highways have not improved traffic situation in the city. Rather, many of such traffic officials are seen as agents of extortion who also constitute a clog to the free flow of traffic.
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