The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to commence the automation of the traffic monitoring system.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, representıng Eti Osa Constituency 1, raised the matter as a motion at plenary on the floor of the House, on Monday.
Yishawu added that the state traffic law, which was being enforced manually had not achieved its aims, adding that it was humanly impossible for law enforcement agents to keep surveillance on the roads and ensure enforcement with the way it was presently being done.
“We should put machines with different cameras on the roads to help the law enforcement agents. The device would help the security agents to apprehend offenders. It would help monitor BRT lanes; help identify trailers that move on the day time . . .,” he said.
Commenting on the motion, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, Shomolu Constituency 1, maintained that the motion was timely as it came when the state governor directed officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to stop harassing motorists.
Saying the Motion would help protect the lives of passengers, adding that the project could be financed in phases.
“How do we arrest vehicle drivers, who that did not do their registration in Lagos State? With CCTV, a LASTMA official does not need to apprehend erring drivers directly. There should be a harmonisation of data to know those who are registered in Lagos State,” he said.
Also speaking on the matter, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Mushin Constituency 1, said vehicle registration was not strictly a state affair and that the Federal Government should be carried along in the whole process.
Another lawmaker, Hon. Setonji David, however, cautioned that automation would lead to unemployment just as the state did not boast of the sophisticated technology that could apprehend an offender after a traffic crime had been committed.
Hons. Tunde Buraimoh, Desmond Elliot and Sola Giwa disagreed with Sentojı’s submission saying the system, rather than lead to unemployment, would create more jobs. The motion was however,
unanimously approved.
The House later summoned the General Manager of LASTMA and the head of Lagos State Fire Service Authority to appear before it on September 21, over the spate of fire incidents and tanker accidents in the state.
