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LASTMA Reaffirms Power To Impound Vehicles & Arrest Erring Motorists

Published

5 years ago

April 18, 2019

Editor

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Thursday reiterated its powers under the relevant provisions of the Lagos State Traffic Laws of 2012 (as amended) to impound any vehicle and apprehend recalcitrant motorists who contravene any section of the law.

Speaking while receiving the Executive and Members of Humanitarian Voluntary Association for Community Development who came to express solidarity and sympathy over the death of 18 traffic officials of the agency that died on line of duty in 2018, LASTMA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chris Olakpe said contrary to misinformation in some sections of the media, the agency was fully empowered by law to make arrest where and when necessary.

Olakpe, who is a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), said the traffic laws of the State equipped officials of the Agency with powers to arrest where appropriate and allow the alleged offender to pay the fine stipulated for the offence under the law.

In addition, the LASTMA boss said the law allows for penalties for neglect of traffic directions, while disobeying traffic control personnel also attracts fines and impounding of vehicles.

According to him, “One thing the people must know is that the purpose of laws in any state is to regulate human conduct and punish violators, to ensure safety and sanity on the roads and at the same time regulate the function and authority of traffic personnel.”

He said from the findings of the Agency, many of the gridlocks are due to the unusual driving behaviour of some motorists, saying it was important for the public to always cooperate with traffic officers while on the road.

He added that instead of taking laws into their hands, motorists should feel free to take advantage of the open-door policy of LASTMA by reporting any erring officer.

“Just from January 2019 till date, over 30 traffic officials have been brutalized by ill-tempered motorists and as an Agency, we owe it to our officials and their families the responsibility of ensuring their security and safety while performing their duties,” Olakpe said.

He assured that the Agency was reaching out to sister agencies and spirited members of the public in order to deepen collaboration and cooperation with a view to protecting State traffic officials in their domain.

He warned that any motorist that proved to be an agent provocateur irrespective of position on the road will have his vehicle impounded and taken to LASTMA Yard to face appropriate sanctions in accordance with the relevant section of the law.

He further disclosed that the State Traffic officials will soon commence another round of training on civility, politeness and protocol of arrest that would lay emphasis on respect for members of the public, just as he assured that adequate traffic measures have been firmed up to achieve seamless traffic during the Easter period and beyond.

Responding on behalf of the organisation, it’s President, Bankole Odunuga acknowledged the sacrifice and courage being displayed by the traffic officials in spite of intimidation by motorists, disobedience of traffic laws, assaults, injuries and deaths suffered in the line of duty.

Odunuga declared the readiness of his organisation to partner LASTMA in the area of public campaign and enlightenment in order to promote good road culture for sanity to reign on Lagos roads.

It will be recalled that the Agency has stepped up its activities, public enlightenment campaigns and regular meetings with its stakeholders with a view to finding enduring solution to the perennial traffic gridlock in the strategic areas of the State including Apapa, Ikeja Along, Ikorodu Roundabout, Ajah, Mile 12, Iyana Ipaja, among others.

Headline

Breaking: Wike Plans to Attend Thursday’s PDP NEC Meeting

Published

3 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NECeeting on Thursday is not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

Political stakeholders have concluded that the outcome of Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan.

Headline

Bribery, Corruption: APC Suspends National Chairman, Ganduje

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The All Progressives Congress ward in Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, has suspended the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The party ward legal adviser, Halliru Gwanzo, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano State on Monday.

Gwanzo cited allegations of bribery against Ganduje levelled by the Kano State Government as the reason for the suspension.

“We decided to suspend Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from the party due to the seriousness of the allegations against him,” Gwanzo said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact the Chief Press Secretary to the APC National Chairman, Mr Edwin Olufo, failed as his mobile phone was unreachable.

Headline

Akpabio Commits to Collaboration with Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno

Published

6 days ago

April 12, 2024

Admin

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has stated his commitment to working closely with Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio stated this in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, while briefing his constituents on the journey so far as their representative in the red chamber.

He assured the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District of his commitment to their welfare in appreciation of their total support for him, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in last year’s election.

The Highpoint of the constituency briefing was the distribution of over 10,000 bags of rice and other essentials for his constituents from the wards, to the local governments.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, “I am here once again, to thank you for standing by me, our President and the party, before, during and even after last year’s elections. I have come to say thank you and also bring Renewed Hope to you all.

“As the President is doing his own, the Senate President is also doing his bit and being complemented by the state governor, Akwa Ibom would be the better for it. We have finished elections and politics, we are now into governance. The governor of the state must touch you, because he is the governor of all the people in the state irrespective of political affiliation.

” As I am touching you now from the political angle, I will also touch the state without any political party affiliation. Most of the projects we are putting in place would be used by people resident in the state. Relax, things are getting better.”

The former Governor of the state, assured his constituents that his current position as the Senate President would be used for the development of the state in collaboration with the President and the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

Hear him: This Senate President is not the one that would be fighting the state government. I will collaborate with , I will collaborate with , to make the state better for us all. We cannot be out of government for a long time. You have to go to a government that carries you along”

Akpabio promised to work for his constituents and Nigeria with all his strength, noting that, “as the President of the Senate, I am for the Southern region and the entire country. I may not come here regularly to tell you what I have been doing for you, but you will be feeling the impact on way or the other. Our unemployed youths would be gainfully employed. I will construct a mini stadium in all the local governments in the district, for our youths to develop their sporting potentials. ”