New Chairman of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr. Christian Olakpe, has said that traffic offenders in the state will not spared.
Olakpe, who was invited to the House of Assembly to explain the constant traffic gridlock in the state said the traffic situation will turn around in the next three months.
He promised to ensure that there is strict compliance with the traffic laws in the state. He said “I am an advocate of reward for good work and punishment for evil work. I can dismiss any officer on the spot and we are going to revive LASTMA within a short period of time. We will give the authority the impetus it needs.
“Once you are dismissed, your name would be published and gazetted. There would be reduction in the ranks of offending officers. I will warn my men seriously and I will visit the Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army for his support and any military man that beats a LASTMA official would be dealt with.
“I have friends in the Nigerian Army and the Police as a former police spokesman. We also plan to go to Ajah to do a participatory observation of what is going on there.”
He appealed to members of the House not to call him on any erring motorists. He added that “I will work until we get a new improved LASTMA. Our men would be visible and accessible. Whoever goes against the law would be pursued with power bike by LASTMA officials. There would be mobile courts. I am still fit and strong to receive phone calls any time of the day.
“On enforcement, we will touch many places and we want the local government chairmen in the state to help us do some roads in their areas. We also want the Speaker of the House to help us increase our funding so that we can give raincoats, rain-boots and torch-lights to our men.”