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Tag: LASTMA

  • Lagos Govt compensates family of slain LASTMA official, issues N10m cheque

    The Lagos State Government says it has fulfilled its promise to compensate the family of late officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adeyemo Oke, who was murdered by a trigger-happy policeman, Olukunle Olonade, in December 2018 at Iyana Ipaja while on duty.

    Presenting a N10m cheque to the deceased’s family on behalf of the state government on Friday at their Ipaja residence, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Transportation, Dr Taiwo Salam, said the late Adeyemo was a dedicated, loyal and committed traffic officer and servant of the state government who would not be forgotten in a hurry.

    Salam said Adeyemo’s death on duty was a testimony to his gallantry and commitment to restoring law and order to Lagos roads.

    While praying for the repose of his soul, the permanent secretary enjoined the family to take the education of Adeyemo’s children and future seriously.

    In his comment, the General Manager of the agency, Olawale Musa, described Adeyemo as a hero and someone that laid down his life for the service of God and humanity.

    Musa said the agency, in appreciation of his contribution to freeing Lagos roads of lawlessness, chaos and impunity had instituted a merit award to reward hard-working staff members.

    He added that the award tagged “Bakare-Adeyemo Merit Award,” was instituted two weeks ago to keep his memory and that of the late Surajudeen Bakare, who was killed in similar circumstances, would remain in the hearts of colleagues.

    “The gallant officers did not die in vain as their good work will continue to be valued by the agency forever,” Musa stated.

    He enjoined family of the deceased to take solace in his good work while noting that he had left his footprints in the sand of time.

  • FSARS inspector who shot LASTMA official dies after mob action

    A Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) inspector, who allegedly killed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Wednesday, has been confirmed dead.

    It was learnt yesterday that Inspector Olukunle Olonade, attached to FSARS Ikeja, died of injuries after he was allegedly attacked by passersby and motorists for allegedly killing Rotimi Adeyemo, the traffic official.

    A statement on Thursday by police spokesman Chike Oti said the mob allegedly beat up the inspector mercilessly.

    He said Olonade died while being taken to hospital.

    The late inspector had earlier allegedly shot Adeyemo dead for flagging him down for a traffic issue.

    The incident occurred at Iyana-Ipaja roundabout about 6pm.

    Olonade, it was gathered, got down and warned the traffic official never to stop him again, adding that he didn’t have a right to do so.

    “Adeyemo was controlling traffic at Iyana-Ipaja when he asked the officer to stop so that motorists from Agege could have their way. Olonade refused to stop and he (Adeyemo) moved away so that he could pass. The next thing was that the officer brought out his gun and shot Adeyemo at close range,” an eyewitness said.

    Oti said Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal had directed that the late Inspector Olonade be tried posthumously in the Orderly Room and be recommended for dismissal from the Force.

    The statement reads: “On Wednesday, the driver of a Toyota Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), marked LSR 277 BJ, later identified as Police Inspector Olukunle Olonade, attached to FSARS Ikeja, while driving along Iyana-Ipaja road, was contravened for driving against traffic by a LASTMA official, Rotimi Adeyemo, 46, at Iyana-Ipaja roundabout.

    “The two men argued with one another. During the altercation, Inspector Olonade allegedly shot the LASTMA officer to death.

    “Consequently, a mob, who thought the attacker was an armed hoodlum, because he was in mufti, descended on him and beat him up to stupor.

    “Although he was later rescued by the policemen drafted to the scene, he later died while being rushed to hospital.

    “The serial number of the pistol recovered at the scene was checked in the system and it revealed the bearer as Inspector Olukunle Olonade attached to FSARS Ikeja. The body of the deceased has been evacuated to the morgue for autopsy.”

     

  • Suspected F-SARS officer kills LASTMA official on duty

    A suspected officer of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) has allegedly killed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

    The incident occurred on Wednesday at Iyana-Ipaja roundabout around 6pm.

    The LASTMA official, identified as Rotimi Adeyemo, was said to have flagged him down for traffic issue.

    The officer, it was learnt, got down and warned the traffic official never to stop him again, saying he didn’t have a right to do so.

    During an argument, the angry officer returned to his car, brought out a gun and shot the traffic official at close range.

    People ran for safety after hearing the gunshot.

    The officer, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, was said to have been arrested.

    Eyewitnesses said the officer drove a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    “The traffic official, Adeyemo, was controlling traffic at Iyana-Ipaja when he asked the SARS officer to stop so that motorists from Agege could start moving. The man refused to stop and he (Adeyemo) moved away so that he could pass motorists from Agege. The next thing was that the officer brought out his gun and shot him at close range,” a source said.

    It was gathered that the suspected killer was first taken Moshalashi Police Station on Ipaja Road before being transferred to the State Command in Ikeja, GRA.

    The traffic official was rushed to the General Hospital in Ifako-Ijaiye where he was confirmed dead.

    His remains have been deposited in a mortuary in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    LASTMA spokesman Mahmud Hassan confirmed the incident.

    He said investigation was on.

  • Road construction: Comply with traffic directive, LASTMA urges motorists

    Road construction: Comply with traffic directive, LASTMA urges motorists

    …Warns against attack on officials, recommends five for dismissal

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Thursday appealed to motorists plying routes where major construction works are ongoing to bear with the State Government and comply with traffic directive, saying concerted efforts have been put in place to deliver the projects on schedule.

    LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olawale Musa who said this after monitoring flow of traffic along Lagos- Abeokuta and Apapa- Oshodi Expressway, said the road projects across the State were being implemented by the State Government to ultimately achieve free flow of traffic within the metropolis, and thereby boost economy and commerce.

    The State Government is currently working on major road projects including Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway, Oshodi- Apapa Expressway, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Agege – Pen Cinema, among other massive roads reconstruction across the State.

    Musa said necessary engineering research and traffic count have been done before the construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor on the Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway, just as he dispelled insinuation that the project would make the road to be smaller in length.

    “Let me appeal to motorists plying the routes where construction activities are ongoing to bear with us and comply with instruction by traffic personnel on the roads. The projects will ultimately contribute to free flow of traffic as well as boost economy and commerce.

    “Also, the construction of the BRT corridor along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway will not narrow the road size as being anticipated by some motorists, but it would rather enhance the road capacity to accommodate more vehicles and improve free flow of traffic at completion,” Musa said.

    Specifically, the LASTMA boss appealed to members of the public using roads under construction to exercise patience in the meantime, adding that the projects, upon completion, would make traffic congestion being experienced on the roads to become a thing of the past.

    While assuring that motorists and commuters would soon heave a sigh of relief, Musa urged them to continue to obey traffic rules and regulations and cooperate with the LASTMA officials who, according to him, are on the road to ensure free flow of traffic.

    He commended motorists for their patience and perseverance since the commencement of the projects, and appealed to them to bear with the government as the road construction works and diversions were designed to ensure the safety of motorists and free flow of traffic.

    “All the measures put in place to control traffic are in the interest of public and the State Government is doing its best to ensure that the projects are completed within the stipulated period,” he said.

    Besides, Musa condemned incessant attacks of traffic officials by motorists, especially commercial drivers, saying the officials were on the roads to ensure motorists and commuters get to their destinations without stress and discomfort.

    “It was disheartening, callous and barbaric seeing a LASTMA official, Olanrewaju Yusuf stabbed on duty at Onipanu last week Wednesday while performing a lawful duty, by a driver of commercial yellow bus with registration number EPE 714 XP for picking passengers at undesignated place and conductor hanging at the door.

    “I like to use this medium to call on motorists to always report erring officials to the agency and not adopt self help as anybody caught attacking officials of the agency would face full wrath of the law,” Musa said.

    Meanwhile, the agency said five traffic officials in the State have been recommended for dismissal for various forms of offenses ranging from extortion, harassment and violation of Lagos State Public Service Rules.

    In addition, 10 others were reprimanded, 14 recommended for demotion and 15 others were issued letters of warning, while three were exonerated after careful investigation.

    “The affected officers appeared in the month of April before the Personal Management Board (discipline) to defend and make presentation on various actions that bothered on indiscipline against them,” the agency said.

    It would be recalled that some traffic officials of the agency were intercepted at various parts of the State for various actions that were not in tandem with the LASTMA operational manual and public service rules of the State Government.

  • Lagos Traffic: LASTMA employs 1,400 personnel to end gridlocks

    In a bid to curb traffic gridlocks on Lagos roads, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Sunday said it has engaged over 1,400 new graduate traffic managers.

    The Chief Executive Officer of LASTMA, Chris Olakpe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the new officials were trained on effectiveness traffic management within Lagos metropolis.

    Olakpe said that various orientation and training programmes were undertaken for LASTMA officials on traffic control and management to ensure professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

    “The trainings are ongoing to capture the old officials within the state to blend with the newly recruited graduates.

    “About 1,400 new officials were recently recruited and trained to bring improvement, discipline and curb gridlocks within the state.

    “We have about 4,250 LASTMA officials to ensure free flow of traffic on various routes in Lagos State,” he said.

    The LASTMA boss said that the officials were trained on protocol of arrest, surveillance and traffic management.

    Olapke added that there were various disciplinary departments at the agency to punish any official who is found wanting in the line of duty.

    “We have departments and sections that deal with discipline like provost marshal’s office, surveillance and monitoring unit and LASTMA complaint units.

    “All these sections are in position to deal with any official who disobey the rules and regulations of the authority,” he said.

    NAN reports that eight LASTMA officials were on Aug. 14 sacked for receiving bribes.

    The LASTMA chief executive said that the authority had been working assiduously to reduce gridlocks in Apapa and its environs.

    He said that the agency had established “Operation Keep Traffic Moving’’ to ease gridlocks in Apapa and other parts of the Lagos metropolis.

    “LASTMA has been assisting in the movement of traffic in Apapa by trying to streamline traffic; it has been doing its best to reduce the gridlocks being experienced in the area,” he said.

     

  • LASTMA goes tough on drivers plying one way, restricted routes

    …Seeks willful compliance with traffic, environmental laws

    The Lagos State Government on Friday carried out comprehensive enforcement of Traffic and Environmental Laws across the State, just as it urged motorists and residents to adopt willful compliance with the relevant laws to ensure free flow of traffic, civility and public order.

    The enforcement, which was jointly carried out by men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, witnessed the arrest of hundreds of commercial motorcyclists plying one way and restricted routes in Agege, Iju Road, Abule-Egba and Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, among others.

    Traders displaying their wares on walkway thereby forcing pedestrians to walk on the road were also arrested, with their goods removed and impounded.

    Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olawale Musa said in as much as government was willing to enforce the law with civility, it would however not allow anyone to break the law and cause trouble for other residents and commuters.

    Musa, who recently assumed office as the GM of LASTMA, said men of the Authority have been adequately directed to perform their duties with utmost civility and discipline, but urged members of the public to reciprocate by complying with the relevant traffic laws.

    He said the enforcement was largely aimed at sending a strong signal to the public that men of LASTMA were still very much on ground to ensure free flow of traffic in every part of the State and deal appropriately with any hitches.

    “This enforcement today is just to send a strong signal that we are on ground and that anybody that breaks the rules or does not conform with the law, we will do the needful but we hope we don’t go to the extent of impounding vehicles, arresting people and trying people. That is why we are appealing to members of the public to always comply with the law. It is not in our desire to make people suffer and once you comply, we don’t have any reason to do that.

    “In my few days in office as the new LASTMA GM, I have noticed that the problem we have are the issues of indiscipline and impatience. Most of our people are impatient and don’t like to obey traffic rules and they like to stop wherever they like especially the commercial bus drivers.

    “But as much as possible, we implore them to always cooperate with our men because it is when we all do that that we can have free flow of traffic. Sometimes, we might have few hitches but our men will always be on ground to control the traffic,” Musa said.

    Speaking on his vision for the Authority, the GM said it is a new dawn for traffic management in the State, adding that government, through the agency, would go all out to ensure that commuters have seamless experience travelling across the State.

    “Let me assure the public that we are going to have a new, very responsible and very disciplined LASTMA. As much as possible, we are going to ensure civility. We will not tolerate LASTMA officials that are rude; we will not tolerate LASTMA officials that act with imprudence and we also would not tolerate people that will not obey the rules, but as much as possible, our officers will maintain discipline and civility. That I can assure the public.

    “Our residents should ensure they obey traffic rules. We do not want to arrest anybody; we don’t take joy in impounding any vehicle but if we are forced to, we might have to. We have told our men not to tow vehicles indiscriminately. If vehicles develop fault on the road, as much as possible, we will help you to remove the vehicle from the road but when you disobey traffic rules, we will do the needful so that traffic will flow,” Musa said.

     

  • Apapa Mob Action: LASG condemns brutal murder of LASTMA official

    …Vows to prosecute perpetrators

    …Denies involvement of Agency in motor boy’s death

    The Lagos State Government on Friday condemned in strong terms the mob action that led to the death of an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Tajudeen Olatunji Bakare and vowed to bring the perpetrators to book.

    The Government also denied involvement of LASTMA in an incident which led to the death of a motor boy attached to a Tanker in Apapa area of the State on Thursday.

    As a result of the incident, a mob in the area had gathered to attack the said LASTMA Official and stoned him to death.

    Bakare, a level 14 officer, was said to have been attacked by the irate mob due to a loose comment by a passerby, while his two eyes were removed and stabbed, after which he was stoned to death.

    Addressing a press briefing on the incident on Friday, the State’s Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi condemned the brutal murder of the officer, saying that the development was one death too many and most unfortunate, as the victim was killed while performing his lawful duties of making Apapa safe for motorists and commuters.

    Elegushi, who addressed the briefing alongside the Chief Executive Officer of LASTMA, Mr. Chris Olakpe and the General Manager of the Agency, Bashir Braimoh, said the officer was killed for an incident he knew absolutely nothing about, adding that it was painful that LASTMA officials were being given raw deals either by the people they were meant to serve or security officers, and that such must stop.

    “Officer Bakare did not lose his life to an accident. No. His life was taken by persons whose only response to an incident is to resort to “jungle justice” even when they were not sure of the play of event. Our officer was murdered by blood thirsty hounds who parade themselves as purveyors of transportation,” Elegushi said.

    He said the gallant officer was brought down in a situation where LASTMA was clearly not culpable, and urged the Nigerian Police to do a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to book, saying justice must be served.

    Contrary to earlier insinuation, the Commissioner said an eye witness account revealed that LASTMA vehicle did not kill anyone, but that it was the driver of the said Tanker that killed his motor boy who was asleep under the vehicle.

    Speaking authoritatively, Elegushi alleged that the mob action was carried out by Tanker Drivers, Okada Riders and other persons who live around them, all of whom he said were persons violating traffic laws, adding that the deceased LASTMA officer was a victim of forceful take-over of roads by a group of people who desire to become a law unto themselves.

    He added: “As a government, we have over the years, asked Tank Farms to provide alternatives; we have engaged with the operators and Tanker Drivers yet they remain intransigent. To avoid situations such as this, we have proffered options but we remain undaunted in our resolve.

    “The Ministry of Transportation, the supervisor of LASTMA and the management of the agency are irrevocably committed to that singular responsibility of ensuring that Lagos roads remain safe and traffic flows to enable the State’s economy to thrive. We do so believing that all residents and visitors to the State obey all our laws and live in tandem with our vision of the community we desire to live in a Lagosians.”

    While debunking insinuation that enforcement of traffic laws in the State were geared towards revenue generation, Elegushi said the State was not in dire need of cash to warrant such, adding that the commitment of the government was to engender compliance with the traffic laws and enforce the law with civility as directed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Also speaking, Olakpe said the incident was most unfortunate as LASTMA officials are usually trained and retrained on how to be firm, fair and friendly while dealing with members of the public.

    Olakpe, who urged the public to desist from mob attack on officers of the agency as it was against the law, said the agency can be reached for complaints through 08129928646.