LAGOS TRAFFIC REVIEW: Imagine Lagos Without LASTMA

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Is it hard to imagine how life would be in Lagos without the now familiar daily  activities of the State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA)? Probably not!  Thanks to  LASTMA, a new culture; though evolving, has replaced the old ways of doing things on  Lagos roads.

Indeed, the fear of LASTMA is now the beginning of wisdom for motorists who  hitherto love to flout traffic rules with reckless abandon. The wisdom in weighing  consequences of actions and inactions on Lagos roads is not only easing traffic  situation but also a clear indication that effective and efficient traffic system is  the responsibilities of everyone in the society.

In the opinion of Mr. Rasheed Raji (08057777547), a Lagos-based event photographer,  “the fear of LASTMA is beginning of good life for all Lagosians; whether you are on  the road for daily business routine or occasional social engagements or even at home  waiting for quick arrival of your loved ones”. It would not amount to  over-exaggeration therefore to submit that LASTMA is one of the glaring indicators  of the giant leaps that have attended democratic governance in Lagos State in turn  of the 21st century.

Commitment to improved traffic situation through enforcement of rules and  regulations as well as adaptation to new management challenges continues to  translate into increased awareness and sensitisation amongst Lagosians regarding  individual and corporate responsibilities in ensuring orderliness and free flow of  traffic on our roads. Although, the battle against indecent and reckless usage of  roads may not have been out-rightly won, but LASTMA is daily proving that an  enduring process aimed at restoring sanity on Lagos roads has come to stay. With  LASTMA, the process is irreversible; the battle is winnable!  LASTMA is not just a  novel idea with ripples of visible accomplishments reverberating beyond the shores  of its immediate environs, it has also since become a model for other metropolises  and city centres across Nigeria and indeed Africa.

Over a decade ago, Lagos was reputed for the otherwise chaotic, frustrating and  maddening traffic situations across its metropolis. Lagos was considered a city  unworthy of living much for the unfriendly traffic situation that impacted  negatively on socio-economic activities. Traffic situation in Lagos assumed a  monumental challenge that not only overwhelmed traffic management authorities as  well as security agencies; but also defied existing traffic rules and regulations.  The erroneous impression then was that only mad drivers get through on Lagos roads  and therefore everyone else needed to; at least, feign madness to cope with the  traffic situation. It is no longer the case with the dynamic vision of LASTMA as an  intervention agency. The fixations and fears about Lagos traffic situation have  given ways to a new dawn of possibilities! LASTMA is, no doubt, making life much  better in Lagos with continuous improvement on road traffic system across the  metropolis.

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If there are still pockets of traffic bottlenecks unresolved in Lagos, it is largely  owing to factors that are beyond the immediate remedies of LASTMA whose officials  are ever present and prepared to ensure free flow, unimpeded and stress-free  traffic. There is the assurance that traffic situation would get much better with  the spate of ongoing infrastructural transformations in Lagos state. There is no  doubt that improvement on road networks and sustained awareness on the  responsibilities of road users would make LASTMA function better for a more  rewarding traffic experience on Lagos roads.

Happily, vices and crimes associated with traffic bottlenecks in Lagos state are  also gradually becoming things of the past with traffic now flowing more freely. The  popular quest amongst Lagosians for people-centred service delivery that would  enhance confidence-building between LASTMA and motorists is yielding desired  results. Despite obvious challenges, LASTMA Officials are now more than ever poised  to enhance public trust through their daily interaction with the generality of the  people. Ms. Oluwaseun Adepoju’s account on Facebook (Tuesday, 28 September, 2010)  reproduced below clearly demonstrates that LASTMA is responding to popular demand  for better service delivery:

“Last week, I had an unforgettable experience with a LASTMA Official (name withheld,  deliberately). My colleague’s car broke down at Oshodi and within seconds, there was  this LASTMA guy. We were agitated because we were all ladies, but he helped us first  to see if the car could start and when that didn’t work, he called a towing van to  help us out. As though that was not enough, he was able to get the towing vehicle  driver to help us check what the fault of the car was. The notorious Area Boys came  to our aid; one volunteered to get the belt which was reason for the breakdown.  Another senior LASTMA Official came around and inquired to know what happened and we  told him. He waited until the car was fixed and ensured we were neither extorted nor  harassed. To crown the whole process, they didn’t collect a dime from us nor  insinuate that we should pay a dime. They continued reiterating that they were  simply doing their job. Sir, I can’t express enough appreciation both to you and the  Officers in questions…….”

The above account represents expectation about the new face of traffic management  system in Lagos. However, this standard should not be too difficult to fathom if we  remember the improvement already recorded compared to the rather hopeless situation  as at 1999 when challenge of transportation in Lagos became one of the barometers  for accessing the performance of the new democratic government. Thus, LASTMA was a  well-thought-out and excellently-conceived response to a challenge that seemed  insurmountable. Fortunately, LASTMA has responded to this challenge by making Lagos  worth the living. There is a justifiable reason therefore to argue that things could  only get better with LASTMA! The point that needs to be reiterated is that the  challenges of achieving more orderly, safer and mutually-benefiting traffic  situation in Lagos is the responsibilities of all Lagosians who must discharge their  responsibilities as lawful citizens while demanding that LASTMA and other traffic as  well as security agencies should effectively play their roles in accordance with its  mandate under the law.

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