Lagos Task Force To Clampdown On LGA Fake Traffic Officials  

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Lagos State Task Force is set to begin from Monday, 28th of May, 2018, a total clampdown on illegal activities of Local Government Traffic Officials on all roads across the state.

P .M EXPRESS reports that this was disclosed by the Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who noted that illegal activities of these notorious traffic officials on our roads had become worrisome, as cases of motorists being extorted were reported to his office daily.

SP Egbeyemi disclosed further that this total clampdown by the Agency was on the directive of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Edgal Imohimi. He said the Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal was not comfortable with the rate of extortion of motorists by these notorious traffic officials who claimed to be enforcing the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012.

The Chairman stated that as a responsive and responsible government, every rights of Lagosians including motorists were paramount to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

He reiterated that the ban of all Local Governments traffic officials from controlling or engaging in traffic duties by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was still in force.

SP Egbeyemi stressed that motorists  complaints about illegal activities of these traffic officials with mufti collecting illegal fees with fake Local Government tickets will be taken very seriously.

“Indeed there are traffic unit in all the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas. However, traffic management is not a responsibility for the third tier of government. We have reported instances of illegal arrest, extortions and general impunity on the part of the Local Government operatives” he said.

The Chairman quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohini that, “only Nigerian Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Task Force and the Rapid Response Squad  (RRS) can perform traffic duties”

SP Egbeyemi urged motorists to always adhere strictly to traffic regulations and report to the nearest Police Station any illegal activities of these notorious traffic officials, adding that there had never been a time government considered ceding its traffic management responsibilities to any tier of government.

He however enjoined Chairmen of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the State to maintain zero tolerance for illegal traffic duties around their respective council as any traffic official caught by the Agency would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law.