Collect Bribe, Go To Jail —LASTMA Officials Warned

The Lagos State Government has vowed to sack any officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, who will capitalise on the new Road Traffic Law signed into law by Governor Babatunde Fashola to enrich themselves.

The new law provides a tempting avenue for unscrupulous traffic officers to enrich themselves as huge fines will be paid by violators of the law which LASTMA had been given overwhelming power to enforce.

LASTMA General Manager, Engr. Babatunde Edu implored traffic officials to shun bribery, corruption and avoid overzealousness in the discharge of their duties while enforcing the new law or face the wrath.

Edu, who spoke at an interactive session with the traffic officials, warned that government would not hesitate to bring to book any of the personnel found to have engaged in illegalities that could tarnish the image of the state government.

According to him, officers found wanting would be shown the way out and face possible prosecution for such unlawful act.He advised personnel to be alive to their responsibilities and ensure they contribute their quotas towards free flow of traffic at all times in order to complement the state government’s efforts in address traffic congestion in the state.

Edu added that the state government would not relent in its efforts at recognising and rewarding any official found to be outstanding in his or her performance.

“This is necessary for LASTMA to rise to the challenges involved in traffic control and management, and to reposition LASTMA as the new face of excellence in Lagos State. These are the leverage that will ensure that LASTMA meets international standards as it is being done in other mega cities of the world. This can be replicated here without infringing on the rights of the citizenry,” he stated.

He implored motorists and residents of the state to cooperate with LASTMA and see the traffic personnel as officers committed to the service of their fatherland, while urging the motoring public to at all times to obey traffic rules and regulations in order to make Lagos State a real Centre of Excellence. He said they should not hesitate to inform the government about any traffic officer found to be corrupt or overzealous in the course of performing his or her duties.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyers on Tuesday urged the Lagos State Government to review its new traffic law to tone down some punishments in the law.

The human right lawyers, who made the call include, Mr Bamidele Aturu, Mr Mohammed Fawehinmi and Mr Taofik Gani.

However, a constitutional lawyer, Mr Fred Agbaje, said that the law was not harsh.

Aturu said in a telephone interview with NAN that “Lagos State Government did not get the law right.”

According to him, it is good to have laws, but the current traffic law will be counter productive.

“While I appreciate the Lagos State Government for trying to sanitise the traffic sector, this new law with intent to criminalise minor traffic offence, does not accord with modern best practices.

“Enforcement of such a law will be chaotic. I think the state should sit down with experts to amend the law,” he said.

Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, advised the government to review the law and seek other measures in terms of traffic control.“For instance, the punishment for offenders should be toned down, while the state should open up roads to ease the congestion that drives people to disobey the laws.

“Some roads, especially council roads are dead ends for years in Lagos. Traffic in Lagos is densely concentrated hence all roads must be in use,” he said.

Fawehinmi also urged the state government to educate the people more on the traffic rules as well as provide signs for roads that are one-way traffic.“If these things are put in place and perfectly executed, it will achieve greater effect,” he said.

Taofik Gani, a lawyer and Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said that there was need for the government to make the holistic provisions of the law available to the public.

“This makes it difficult for any thorough analysis of the said law. The little we know of the law is what we read in the papers,” the PDP official said.

He described the law as too harsh and may be misapplied by over-zealous officials of the state.However, Fred Agbaje said that the law was for the good of Lagos road users.

“It is not harsh. Every unusual situation, like mad driving, deserves an unusual legislation.

“The state government has every social statutory and constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties.

“Anything short of this is an unpardonable criminal dereliction of constitutional responsibility, for which the governor can be impeached,” Agbaje said.

NAN reports that the Lagos Traffic Law prescribes a raft of penalties including psychiatric, breathe and urine tests, fines and prison terms for traffic offenders in the state.Driving against traffic attracts a psychiatric test and three-year jail term. The traffic law prohibit motorists from eating as well as making phone calls while driving.

It stipulates a fine of N20, 000 for first offender and a maximum of three years imprisonment or N30, 000 fine or both for subsequent offences.

According to the document, articulated vehicles with the exemption of fuel tankers and long passenger trucks are now prohibited from entering into or travelling within the metropolis from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Violators risk impoundment of their vehicles and payment of N50,000 as fine or six months imprisonment.

It also compels commuter bus drivers and their conductors to wear identification tags, while property owners are also compelled to report cases of abandoned vehicles in their vicinity or risk punishment.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) are empowered to administer breathalysers on drivers to detect drunkenness.

Also owners of commercial vehicles are compelled to obtain operating licenses from government.