By Rasaq Adebayo
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Sector Command have agreed to form a Joint Task Force with other professional traffic managers on accident reduction particularly truck crashes on Lagos roads.
In a statement on Monday, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq quoted the General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba that the agency has agreed to the proposed Joint Task Force during a courtesy visit by the new Sector Commander FRSC Lagos, Corps Commander Babatunde Farinloye and his team to the LASTMA Headquarters at Oshodi, over the weekend.
Oreagba was said to have disclosed that LASTMA as a first responder at any emergency/accident scene across the State has been rescuing accident victims particularly those involved truck crashes in collaborations with other emergency responders like Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASMBUS), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Lagos Fire & Rescue Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
“Sequel to the need to prevent further loss of lives and properties through truck crashes on Ojuelegba Bridge, LASTMA has deployed trained officers to disallow heavy duty trucks/tankers from plying the Ojuelegba Bridge by Ikorodu Road.”
He maintained that for fairness, equity and quick dispensation of justice on all traffic violators including truck drivers the Lagos State, Mobile will be part of the LASTMA, FRSC joint Task Force on accident reduction.
He said: “The love, collaboration and brotherliness between the two government Agencies will continue in order to ensure safety of road users for stimulation of growth and development in the State.”
The General Manager however stated that innocent motorists and other road users who are mostly victims of road accident would be beneficial of the joint task force.
Earlier in his speech, the new Sector Commander FRSC, Lagos, Corps Commander Babatunde Farinloye, said the FRSC was primarily established to maintain safety on highways across the country.
Farinloye maintained that FRSC has been collaborating with individual State Traffic Management Agencies in maintaining standard on road safety management across the country.
According to him, “FRSC and LASTMA must work together as a team for peace, safety and prosperity on the highways as this will lead to a paradigm shift from usual way of operation to an exceptional and outstanding way.”
He called for more public education and enlightenment on recalcitrant motorists disobeying traffic regulations particularly those driving against traffic (one-way) in Lagos State.
While thanking the management of LASTMA for its maximum cooperation with FRSC personnel on traffic management around construction site by ‘Kara Bridge’ on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Corps Farinloye however advised motorists to have their valid driver’s license whenever they are driving around the State and the Country at large.
