Ambode disbands traffic management units in LGAs

Lagos State government on Tuesday ordered the disbandment of traffic units in all the local councils in the state, warning that such creation constituted illegality because traffic control was outside the purview of the local government administration.

By this order, all council officers involved in traffic related activities including illegal towing of vehicles and arrest of motorists on allegation of traffic infringement, are to cease from such activities or face the full wrath of the law.

The order, which takes immediate effect, according to the government, will be jointly enforced by the police, officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other relevant law enforcement agencies.

Olarenwaju Elegushi, the acting commissioner for transport, who briefed the media on some developments within the transportation sector in Lagos, also condemned the abuse of official number plates by some retired government officials, political appointees and traditional institutions.

Elegushi said it amounted to abuse of privilege for a retired official or an ex-political appointee to continue the use of an official number plate attached to their vehicles while in service.

Elegushi said, “Indeed, there are traffic units in all the 57 local governments and local council development areas. However, this is not a responsibility for the third tier of government. We have reported instances of illegal arrest, extortion and general impunity on the part of the local government operatives. It is then appropriate to disband all the units and outfits parading as local government traffic units. This has been communicated to all these agencies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, officials of the ministry will start monitoring and any infraction will be dealt with in full compliance with the law. Let me also reiterate that only the Nigeria Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Taskforce on Special Offences and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) can perform traffic duties.”

The commissioner urged Lagosians to report any such illegal activities to the Ministry of Transportation, saying the ministry had zero tolerance for illegal traffic duties.

The commissioner also said “It has been realised that some of the current official number plates, in circulation, were issued to vehicles different from the once which they are now found. Even persons who are not in government now have vehicles bearing official number plates. This is neither tenable nor acceptable.

“As such, the governor has approved the cancellation and retrieval of all such official number plates and the re registration of all government owned vehicles.

“However, the number plates remain government property. Some others have brazenly removed them from vehicles kept with mechanics. All of these constitute a security challenge that must be addressed,” he said.