Follow Us on Google
By Moses Akaigwe
Officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been enjoined to dedicate themselves towards achieving the goal of bringing back glory days of the agency for the good of all and sundry.
The newly appointed Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, gave the charge at a roundtable with Heads of Departments and Directors of the enforcement agency held at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
The Special Adviser, who started his career as Senior Special Assistant on LASTMA in 2007, reminisced that LASTMA had seen better days as this was not the way things were in the foremost enforcement agency back in the days.
He added that a lot of things have to come back and urged Officers to brace up with the great ideas that will reposition and revitalize the traffic management authority.
Giwa said, “I salute what you are doing, but we need to do more as an Agency. We need to have a positive outlook and shun all our previous negativism. If we change, a lot of things will also change. Governor Sanwo-Olu as much as he loves us, wants us to make him proud. I need not remind you that Transportation and Traffic Management is not only the first pillar of the THEMES development agenda but topmost in the priority of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration.”
The Special Adviser further stated that he is not unaware of the challenges facing LASTMA Officers in the course of their duties and that is why he is poised to operate with them on the tripod of Welfare, Professionalism and Discipline.
The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, Bolaji Oreagba while assuring the Special Adviser of the unstinting support of LASTMA Officers, also disclosed that the lack of inter-agency cooperation and collaboration has hampered the effectiveness and operations of the Agency in times past.
The GM noted that the destruction of road furniture and street signages by vandals is another challenge that the agency is grappling with.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Kamar Olowosago noted that even though the standard might have fallen and the ball might have been dropped, yet, it behoves on the rank and file of LASTMA to support the new Special Adviser in his task to reposition LASTMA.
…Diverts traffic on Akin Adesola
Meanwhile, in continuation of the rehabilitation of Adeyemo Alakija Street and its environs, the Lagos State Government will be diverting traffic for the third phase of the repairs which covers Akin Adesola Junction to Lekki Epe Express way Junction, from Monday, August 15 2022.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, disclosed that the second phase of the repair had been completed and that it was expedient to commence the third phase immediately.
He assured that alternative routes have been mapped out to ease movement along the affected corridors.
Oladeinde explained that traffic heading towards Ozumba Mbadiwe from Akin Adesola will be diverted to Adeyemo Alakija inbound Idowu Taylor Street to link Adeola Hopewell/ Akinbo Savage Street, for a U-turn on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, to access Ozumba Mbadiwe or Lekki Express way.
He further stated that Traffic inbound Adeyemo Alakija from Ozumba Mbadiwe or Lekki Expressway will have to make a turn left into Adetokunbo Ademola Idowu Taylor to link Akinbo Savage Street, Adeola Hopewell and Idowu Taylor to access their desired destinations.
The Transport Commissioner assured that despite the Traffic Impact on the alternative routes, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority will be deployed to minimize inconveniences and ease movement along the affected corridors.
