Ambode Reads Riot Act To LASTMA, KAI

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has read the riot act to officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI to brace up to the task of traffic management and environmental hygiene.

Ambode who addressed LASTMA and KAI officials at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria on Wednesday, said the feedback out there is that traffic had worsened in recent times.

He said LASTMA and KAI were the face of Lagos as whatever they do would affect the image of his government.

Ambode stated that all traffic blackspots must be identified and dealt with, saying that he wanted the LASTMA officers to offer 24-hour service to ease traffic gridlock in busy areas

He added that places like Third Mainland Bridge, Abule Egba, Dopemu, among others which had constituted traffic black spots must be decongested immediately to allow traffic flow.

Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor

Ambode warned LASTMA not to torture Lagosians through brutalisation, saying that the officers should not enter people’s cars to arrest them.

He said he wanted a situation where LASTMA would use technology to arrest offenders rather than harassing them, while pledging incentives for the officers.

The governor also challenged KAI officers to go out and prevent all forms of street trading without harassing the people.

He said their actions on the street would have untold effect on the state government, adding that the time had come for a new Lagos to begin.

Ambode vowed to protect the interest of LASTMA and KAI, adding that half of the new vehicles that had been provided for them would be released to them at the end of the meeting while the remaining would be released later.

Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello also said it was not going to be business as usual, warning that there would be no more room for bribery and corruption.

He said once any officer is caught in the act of bribery, there would be no mercy as such officers would be shown the way out of service.

Bello said LASTMA and KAI had been doing well but noted that they had to do more to keep Lagos working.

The SSG added that traffic must be decongested in Lagos while all forms of street trading must stop henceforth.

Deputy Governor, Oluranti Adebule warned that bad eggs in the two outfits would be shown the way out, saying that all forms of extortion must stop