20th May, 2014
Eromosele Ebhomele
The Lagos State Attorney-General, Ade Ipaye, and members of the State House of Assembly, western Nigeria on Tuesday raised alarm for the second time this year over the activities of the FERMA Task Force, a group of unemployed Nigerians recruited and trained by the Federal agency in the State.
Many of the lawmakers confirmed that the task force members had taken over major roads in the State, controlling traffic and taking over the jobs of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and the State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA.
Ipaye, who had been invited to the House over issues concerning severance package for former political officers in local government councils in the State, also said he saw the youths controlling traffic at the Toll Gate end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while he was rushing to the House from the Victoria Island area of the State.
He said the State had earlier taken the issue up with the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, who denied having anything to do with such recruitment.
He said the State would no longer hesitate to investigate the issue.
Authorities of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, had also denied any links with the task force, yet its activities continued.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Umar Manko, who was summoned by the lawmakers some months ago, had promised to arrest the situation.
The members at plenary lamented that the FERMA Task Force, through its activities as witnessed on Tuesday, had displaced legally established bodies like the FRSC and the LASTMA, thus posing danger to the State and its residents.
Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, while wondering what law empowered the task force to take over roads, also promised to see the State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, over the issue.
“These people in strange uniforms were seen at the Toll Gate controlling traffic and we may find them all over Lagos very soon.
“This could lead to problems. We should call on relevant authorities to caution them,” he said.
However, a report from the Office of the State Governor late Tuesday stated that the Police had arrested 35 members of the task force who were caught dressed in grey and black uniforms and were controlling traffic.
“The unknown people, whose intention could not be easily ascertained, were seen positioned in strategic locations where they engaged LASTMA officials who challenged them in arguments, claiming that they were sent to take over federal roads.
“They took Lagosians by surprise and instilled fear in a lot of people who were going to their offices early, as many could not explain their mission in the areas noted for being peaceful and hitch-free,
“It took the intervention of the Police from the Lagos Command, to get them off the road and return normalcy on the roads after about four hours of causing confusion, attempting to fight LASTMA and generally disturbing the peace of the areas,” the statement which urged residents to maintain peace and go about their activities without fear, said.