Egbon Babajide Sanwo-Olu is in town.
Driving through Oba Akran Avenue, Musa couldn’t stop smiling despite the cloudy weather. His German Shepherd had just given birth to 13 puppies. “At an average cost of 40,000 naira each, that should be enough to pay the rent,” he said to himself. “I should still have some change to renew my DSTV subscription for the African Nations Championship,” he concluded.
His phone rang and he stole a look to discover it was Edet, his neighbor. Maybe a buyer had come to enquire about the puppies. Picking the phone, Musa informed Edet that he would soon be home.
After answering his call, he looked up to discover a LASTMA official smiling mischievously in front of his car. “Oga please park well and come down”, said the officer. At the mere sight of the LASTMA official, Musa started sweating in his air-conditioned car.
The fear of LASTMA is the continuation of wisdom.
“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.” – Jim Rohn
Few weeks ago, precisely on the 29th of May, 2019, the incumbent governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu took office. The governor has settled down to work and the tone of his administration seems to have been set in the first few days of office.
Policy Thrust of the new government as communicated by Governor Babajide:
- Traffic Management and Transportation
- Health and Waste Management
- Education and Technology
- Making Lagos a 21st century economy
- Entertainment and Tourism
- Security
- Make Lagos the preferred destination for investment, entertainment and tourism in Africa.
- Readiness to partner with local and foreign businesses\investors
- Build on the achievements of past governments to put Lagos in the rightful place in the committee of leading cities in the world.
In summary, the governor intends to deliver the Lagos of our dreams.
Terrific intent and strategy if I may say.
However, like you will agree with me, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”.
Analysis of some actions taken by the incumbent state government
The governor has rightly realized that traffic management is a major issue in Lagos and must be handled without levity. He has also initiated action to tackle the issue. He deserves full marks for his decisiveness.
However, I am a little concerned with the approach.
According to the Lagos State government, “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared total war on traffic offences, saying special courts will be created to try offenders, who will be made to serve their punishment if found guilty at the point of contravention.”
The government has implemented severe penalties for traffic offences such as a 200,000 Naira fine for driving one-way.
There are also indications that the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) are back on the road and now supported by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology which ensures that the details of vehicles with expired or invalid particulars are captured and the owners automatically fined.
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) is the agency responsible for managing the state transport system. The agency has done a lot of good since inception and everybody feels the impact whenever they are not on duty.
Their hazard allowances have been doubled and morale is high.
However, we are also aware of the unsavory tendencies of some of the personnel. Stories abound of miscreants working in collusion with LASTMA to lure drivers into one-way streets. Streets in some places in Lagos can be confusing and identifying one-way streets is sometimes difficult when you consider some of the fading or damaged traffic signs.
We have also seen incidents of LASTMA officials fighting with road users. Of course we know some of them collect bribes.
Now our governor has given them order and courage to conquer. Their security backups in form of the police and towing vans have also been returned.
Wahala owa ooo!
You know the saying, “When a kid is instructed to rob by his father, he doesn’t sneak in. He boldly kicks down the door.”
We are all aware of the unpleasant nature of some of our police officers. Imagine the nightmare scenario of a gang of vindictive police officers and overzealous LASTMA officials breathing down your neck.
I acknowledge that some of our drivers and road users are criminally insane and only respond to maximum force. But majority of us are law abiding and unlikely to deliberately flout rules.
Picture these frightening possibilities:
One-way infringement?
You miss a turn at Bariga and find yourself in a one-way street. ‘Fiam’. Before you can say “next level” an athletic LASTMA official dives into your car through the open window. 200,000 Naira going….
Seat belt transgression?
Thank God it’s Friday. You have just driven out of Iya Bimpe’s buka after demolishing a mountain of Amala garnished with 7 pieces of meat. Close to Admiralty junction en route the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, the traffic jam keeps you for an hour. Your village people whisper in your ears to remove your seat belt to ease the pressure of the Amala fermenting in your stomach. Ghen ghen!
An eagle-eyed Lastma official sees you from far and lands at your door in the twinkle of an eye. Before you can explain that the traffic is not yet moving, you are surrounded by a team of police and traffic officers who haul you before a mobile court judge to argue your case. 30,000 naira going………..
Traffic light violation?
Going home from work after a particularly stressful day. You get to the traffic light at Fagba junction on Iju road. The light changes from green to amber (yellow). You decide to stop rather than risk 3 months imprisonment or a 50,000 naira fine. The LASTMA official waves so you continue driving under the assumption that he was waving at you. However, he was hungry and was waving at the gala seller. They stop you because the light connived with them to turn red. Remember minimum wage is still 30,000.
Conclusion
I was in a bus the other day and the guys behind me were insinuating that the new traffic directives and massive fines are an attempt to boost internally generated revenue considering the financial exertions of the elections. I don’t believe them.
I think our cherished governor means well for us and is trying to improve traffic in Lagos.
I understand our governor is trying to hit the ground running in order to deliver on his electoral promises. However, we hope he doesn’t inadvertently torment the already overwhelmed populace who are besieged by trigger happy policemen, bad roads, lack of jobs, ill-equipped health centers and poorly managed schools.
How I wish he could direct the same urgency he used with LASTMA to the
Private Support Partnership, PSP, refuse operators who have conspired to turn my street into a refuse dump with their absence. Maybe their hazard pay should also be doubled.
Or even better, give an ultimatum to the touts collecting money from transporters to cease with immediate effect. Of course he would have to provide alternative sources of income for them and also appease their godfathers.
Hopefully, Lagos State government will adopt more creative, effective and humane strategies to solve the Lagos traffic conundrum.
Suggestions:
- Devise more effective but tolerant punitive measures for traffic offences.
- Train, retrain and closely monitor the LASTMA personnel
- Fix the bad roads and build new ones
- Hasten up on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit
- Invest in waterway transportation and sensitize the populace
- Encourage entrepreneurs and organizations to adopt telecommuting. More people can work from home.
Our dear governor, we are all following like lambs going to the slaughter house. We hope you can divert us to greener pastures rather than the place of slaughter. LASTMA are on ground to manage the diversion.
Eko Oni Baje Ooo !
Leave a Reply