Lagos state in recent times has rose to become one of the states where traffic congestion is an order of the day.
To address the menace of traffic gridlock in the state, Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, asked the new Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Dayo Mobereola to come out with strategic plans that would ease the perenial lockdown in several parts of the state.
The lawmakers also, yesterday, called on the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Bashir Braimah, to appear before it over the persistent traffic issues.
The summon resulted from the adoption of a motion moved on the issue by a member, Moshood Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, during plenary yesterday.
Speaking on the issue, Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, observed that the state ought to devise other means of transportation such as rail and sea to ease traffic congestion.
According to him, “there is need to invite the General Manager of LASTMA to come and address us on the issue, while the newly-appointed Commissioner for Transportation should direct relevant agencies to ease the traffic situation in the state.
“LASTMA was established to ease traffic in the state, and also provide jobs for people and any official of the agency that is not ready to work should be shown the way out. We have to urgently do something about this.”
Also contributing, the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Wasiu Eshinlokun, said there should be zero tolerance for driving against traffic and for motorcycle riders that ride on restricted roads.
In his view, the Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade said the intention of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in changing the approach of LASTMA officials on the way they handle traffic offenders was good.
He added that the governor did not stop LASTMA officials from enforcing traffic laws, adding thatokada riders now ride on highways with impunity.
Agunbiade said there was need for the Commissioner of Information and that of Transportation to collaborate on enlightenment of the public on traffic rules.
Also, Tobun Abiodun from Epe Constituency 1 said that the Federal Government had abandoned its responsibility in Lagos, while urging the House to call on her to fix the bad federal roads in the state.
Gbolahan Yishawu from Eti-Osa Constituency 2 put the blame on the quality of drivers in the state as he said people obtain driver’s licenses without knowing traffic rules and laws.