Sanwo-Olu Did Not Stop Us From Arresting Erring Motorists — LASTMA

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has advised residents to dismiss the persistent false information spreading on social media that  “henceforth no LASTMA officials should arrest any motorist, either commercial or private", purported to have been ordered by State Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu.

In a statement by LASTMA's General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, through the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, on Friday, the agency refuted the news alleging that its officials were banned from arresting motorists who disregard the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

According to Oreagba, unknown troublemakers have constantly circulated the fake report since February 2020, despite the LASTMA's management dismissal several times. 

He urged the residents, especially motorists, to be cautious of the fake online reports aimed at causing mayhem within the society.

The statement read in part: “The attention of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been drawn to the recurring fake news circulating on social media, purported to have been said by the Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu that, “Henceforth no LASTMA Officials should arrest any motorist, either commercial or private.

“The duty of LASTMA is to manage traffic and not to arrest.

“I wonder why some individuals choose to always mislead others to contravene the traffic law of the State as amended by the State House of Assembly in 2018.

“Part of the Agency’s responsibility is to uphold and enforce the traffic laws of the State, maintaining that the officers and men of LASTMA will not hesitate to enforce those laws whenever violated to transform the State’s transportation system towards ensuring the free flow of traffic and reducing road accidents.

“The motoring public is advised to ignore and disregard all fake news circulated by faceless individuals and designed to lead them into breaking the traffic law of the state.”

Oreagba argued that all aspects of the authority's operations, including its work ethics, are governed by the law.

He confirmed that the agency is currently operating with cutting-edge technological innovations to address traffic challenges.

This, according to him, includes improving signalized intersections and junctions and providing traffic management personnel with new handheld Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices that capture real-time traffic violations on the road.n improvement.