The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA had it’s performance and the management of traffic across Lagos state inline with the cardinal objectives of the four first term of Babajide Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat administration in accordance with new norm T H E M E S, that encompasses the programs of development of the current leadership at the state.
With renewed zeal and repositioned LASTMA, the traffic management of Lagos state hitherto contributory to the lackadaisical gridlock around Lagos state and by implications slowed down the economic, social and infrastructural development was addressed headlong.
From 2019 till date , the present administration had not only regulated, standardised and controlled the rowdy Lagos traffic through the reinvigorated transport body known as LASTMA, but phased out rickety vehicles hitherto known for Lagos roads as the use of “MOLUE”, known for Lagos identity was phased out given way to modest and modern high capacity buses owned substantially by both the private and public sectors who invested heavily on Lagos state transportation system owing to relative stability created by the current leadership.
The stable mode of operation and control adopted by the newly rejigged LASTMA had contributed to the stability of Lagos roads spread to Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Edo State.
The new system complemented by the massive construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Lagos roads across the mainland, island and Lagos metropolis had improved the movement on Lagos roads far from the previous order of incessant gridlock on the roads.
The reforms carried out by the current management put in place by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led to massive recruitment of professionals, graduates, non graduates and technical staff with wealth of experiences in the new LASTMA that had instiled discipline in the recalcitrant and uncultured Lagos commercial motorists and other road users.
Aside reducing massive unemployment situation in the cosmopolitan lagos state, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu put in place a lasting policies and programs as well as procedures to plying Lagos roads, away from all comers affairs as obtainable before 2019.
The introduction of standard road worthy vehicles, sound and serviceable high capacity, medium and mini buses and other mode of roads transportation across Lagos state, the monitoring and management acumen of the new LASTMA had brought a lasting sanity across the state roads.
With the repositioned LASTMA, monitoring and management, it became obvious that motorists and transporters plying Lagos roads are expected to leave above board in complying with the lay down procedures and laws guiding it’s operations, while largely and chunk of the motorists complied with the procedures, many others either naturally and deliberately flouted the laws which attracted huge fines and payments to the Lagos state government through LASTMA which inturn increased the revenue base of the state.
The non- deliberate decisions of Lagos state government through its agency LASTMA had reduced to the barest minimum the frequent break down of law and order from unrepentant Lagos motorists and harrassment from intimidations from fellow motorists and government officials.
The unabated movements and situations led to the introduction of various degrees of fines to mitigate and discouraged motorists from frequent and continuous break down of law and order.
The introduction of fines as control that had placed a permanent check on motorists and road users also led to the confiscation of vehicles of law breakers and car owners to discourage frequent and continued traffic offences by offenders.
The renewed control and seizure of vehicles by LASTMA, an agency of government charged with the operation of vehicles on Lagos roads led to a large abandonment of both articulated, medium and mini buses and vehicles were confiscated under the new transportation laws of Lagos state, with fines running into billions which will inturn would have contributed to the growing Lagos state revenue base, and by extension expand the scope of social and infrastructural development of the state.
But, with strong and unrepentant believe in succour and humane practices, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his usual practices resolved and forgave all the vehicles involved in the break down of traffic rules already fined and charged to court “Free of Charge” to go home and also retrieve their vehicles.
Some of the vehicles abandoned in the last few years with huge demurrage and damages were forgiven by Lagos state government, while asking the offenders to go and sin no more.
The action of the Lagos state government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was quite commendable towards the ordinary citizens of the state despite ceding huge revenues loss to the deliberate attitude of Lagos road users to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians, at these critical period when government desired more revenues to address dearth of underdevelopment.
This gesture alone was another milestone geared towards improving the revenue profiles of various homes, organizations in the state, so as to contribute their quota positively to the development of Lagos state.
With these kind gesture, it is obvious that such gigantic investments in human capital development desire reciprocity from all and sundry through mass supports and voting of the Governor in the forthcoming Governorship and state assembly elections in Lagos state, as one good turn deserves another.
With the renew efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu/ Hamzat administration at this point in time, no doubt when re-elected will attract not only more human capital development, but more dividends of democracy.
Let’s join hands together to re-elect Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu\ Hamzat to Lagos state so as to continue to pilot the affairs of the state in good stead.
* YUSUF writes from Abuja,and can be reached on [email protected].
