Piqued by frequent cases of road carnages caused by articulated trucks, Lagos State government yesterday said it would henceforth enforce the Road Traffic Law 2012, restricting trailers and long vehicles from plying the metropolis between the hours of 6am to 9pm.
The permanent secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, who disclosed this to journalists while reacting to the recent fatal accident involving a container-laden trailer in which three people died said the trailer contravened Section 2 (i) and 2 (ii) of the Traffic Law.
To this end, Whenu said the state government will henceforth go tough on any trailer and long vehicle that contravenes the law , saying such vehicle will be impounded and made to pay the stipulated fine accordingly.
To ensure compliance, leaders of various transport unions and associations in the state at the weekend rose from a meeting with officials of the state government with a resolve to support the new directive.
Whenu, at the meeting clarified the state government’s position on the new directive, saying that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials have not been withdrawn from performing their statutory responsibilities on the road.
He said the new directive would pay more emphasis on flawless flow of traffic, while traffic offenders will now be booked and expected to pay their fines within the stipulated period in line with the state government’s covenant with Lagosians to make life easier for them.
The permanent secretary solicited the cooperation and support of all transport operators in ensuring the success of this laudable initiative and to also warn their members not to see this act of magnanimity by the state government as a sign of weakness by attacking LASTMA or any other enforcement agents.
He said anyone found culpable will be sanctioned in accordance with relevant provisions of the law.
“The state government has also directed that all commercial passenger vehicles should obey all traffic rules and regulations by stopping only at designated bus-stops, close bus doors while in motion among other provisions of the law”, Whenu said.
Responding, the state chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Musa Muhammed, who spoke on behalf of other union leaders, welcomed the new initiative just as he pledged the support of their members to the state government in maintaining law and order and sanity in the transport sector.
The meeting was attended by the leadership of the various transport unions including Prince Tajudeen Adetoro, state chairman of the Taxi Cab Operators, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, state chairman, Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) and Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, state treasurer.
National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), amongst others.
