The Lagos State government at the weekend vowed to ensure strict enforcement of the Road Traffic Law 2012, restricting trailers and long vehicles from plying the metropolis between the hours of 6am to 9pm.
The permanent secretary ministry of transportation, Oluseyi Whenu who spoke with journalists on the backdrop of the fatal accident involving a container-laden trailer on September 2, said the trailer contravened Section 2 (i) and 2 (ii) of the Traffic Law.
Mr. Whenu said the state government would henceforth go tough on any trailer and long vehicle that flout the Law, as such vehicle would be impounded and made to pay the stipulated fine accordingly.
Meanwhile, leaders of various transport unions and associations in the state, rising from a meeting with officials of the state government, also at the weekend, resolved to support the new directive introduced in apprehending traffic offenders.
Whenu, at the meeting, clarified the state government’s position on the new directive that the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) should do more of booking traffic offenders rather than engage in physical struggle with motorists. He emphasized that LASTMA officials had not been withdrawn from performing their statutory responsibilities on the road.
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The new directive will pay more emphasis on flawless flow of traffic, while traffic offenders will now be booked and expected to pay their fines within the stipulated period in line with the state government’s covenant with Lagosians to make life easier for them, Whenu said.
“The state government has also directed that all commercial passenger vehicles should obey all traffic rules and regulations by stopping only at designated bus-stops, close bus doors while in motion, among other provisions of the law,” Whenu said.
Musa Muhammed, Lagos State chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), who spoke on behalf of other union leaders, welcomed the new initiative just as he pledged the support of their members in co-operating with the state government in maintaining law and order and sanity in the transport sector.
The meeting was attended by the leadership of the various transport unions, such as Tajudeen Adetoro, state chairman, Taxi Cab Operators; Musiliu Akinsanya, state treasurer, National Union of Road Transport Workers, among others.
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