General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr. Olawale Musa, tells FEMI MAKINDE that visitors can not be managed effectively without enforcing the regulation. There are claims that the brand new traffic law has been made to generate revenue instead of to ease traffic on Lagos roads. Is this actual?
The law isn’t always new. It is the equal regulation that we have been operating for decades. We determined to republish it because mischief-makers have been spreading false facts approximately it. We don’t need motorists to have issues with our men on the street, so we had to let them know more about the law. Some are pronouncing that the governor (Babajide Sanwo-Olu) has said LASTMA can’t make arrests. Mischief makers are doing so many funny things on social media, and we need to permit the public to realize the truth. It is the equal law that we used; there’s nothing new about it.
About the allegation of the use of the law to generate revenue, that isn’t always genuine. What they’re circulating are the penalties attached to the regulation. The law involves the whole thing about the operations of LASTMA and how officers need to conduct themselves. That penalty aspect is only a timetable; it is not the law. Let me make it clear: no person can control traffic without imposing the law. Anywhere within the international, if you say you’re controlling site visitors without enforcement, you are joking. The best distinction between the ones in superior international locations and here is that they use technology there, and we put human beings.
They use cameras, and we positioned humans because human beings see people; this is why they’re complaining. There needs to be enforcement anywhere you manipulate traffic inside the international; otherwise, human beings will not take it seriously. I don’t see any reason why people ought to be afraid. I walk through the same street that others pass. My wife and my family members skip via the equal avenue; they must also obey the law. The law applies to all of us, regardless of our popularity. This regulation has been there since the time of (former Governor Babatunde) Fashola.
Are the fines new?
Those fines aren’t new. Social media is now greater energetic than the manner it was earlier, and plenty of people are active. That is why the fines are being circulated, and lots of extra-human beings get to see them. People now see facts more than earlier.
Is the component of forfeiture of vehicles not new as well?
It is not new. It became even worse than this in the course of Fashola’s regime because if you had been arrested, you would be made to go for a psychiatric assessment. If we ask people to go for a psychiatric assessment now, they would say it is new, but it has continually been there. I am sure many humans will bear in mind this. It is the equal regulation we’re using; however, we’re simply enlightening the human beings so that they may understand the fines. This is supposed to deter them from violating the law.
How do you react to the claims that the law is merciless and oppressive?
The law isn’t always cruel. It is a false impression. You are free to move and evaluate our regulations with visitors’ laws and fines, and compare them with what they have got everywhere inside the international community, and see if they are cruel. I didn’t make the regulation. I am positive you understand that. But if the fines are too meager, many people will not appreciate it. If the fines are like that, it’ll make human beings admire the law. Nobody needs to blame LASTMA for the law. LASTMA did not make any regulations, but we are just enforcing them.
What is LASTMA’s commercial enterprise with drivers no longer fastening seat belts? Why don’t you leave this to the Federal Road Safety Corps to implement?
It is our responsibility to put into force what is consistent with the law. LASTMA does not just control traffic; we implement site visitor laws. There are visitors’ legal guidelines that you ought to obey when you are on the road. It is for your protection. If our activity is to govern traffic, we can no longer need to be removing impediments on the street. If it’s miles controlling traffic, we can now not be involved in casting off broken-down motors. There are so many things connected to traffic control and control. Once you are on the street, you must wear your seat belt. If that does not issue to us, then some will ask: what has LASTMA given to make sure that motorists no longer beat sight visitors’ lighting? Or what is the business of LASTMA whilst somebody parks a car on the curb or walkway?
The roads are very horrific now, riddled with potholes. Many trust that the roads ought to have been made constant first before imposing the law. Do you accept this as true?
There are two ways to examine it. For example, if there’s a flash flood and somebody now decides to protest against opposition to visitors and block the final lane, should we not enforce the law? We realize that the roads are bad. I’m in contact with the GM of Public Works; they are doing something approximately it. But the rains are worrying about them now. We tell them where we’ve troubles and they’re working on it. But it is a lot of labor. The governor has given a directive that every traffic light needs to work, and they’re running on it. They are running on many things.
Traffic officials are accused of luring motorists to drive towards the site visitors and later arresting them. Are you privy to this?
It is not feasible. Let me inform you what typically occurs in particularly at the BRT lanes. If there is any breakdown (of automobiles) on the primary road, we commonly open the BRT lanes to all motor vehicles to free the site visitors. But a few drivers will refuse to go back to the principal road at the exit where they are expected to exit. They are supposed to use the BRT lanes to keep away from staying in gridlock for hours; however, they should exit later. Some of them will keep using the lane, and if they are arrested, they’ll not tell the complete truth.
Some drivers will drive in the BRT lane because it was opened to them the day before today to clean the site for visitors. Shouldn’t they be arrested? We have told motorists not to offer money to our officers. If you insist that you are on your proper, we’ve said no. LASTMA officials have trouble issuing a price ticket. You will go to the courtroom, and the Justice of the Peace will decide whether or not you’re responsible or not. The magistrate can find to the excellent or say you are not guilty.
