LASTMA Debunks Memo That They Are Prohibited In Lagos

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, or LASTMA, has urged locals to disregard the persistent false reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has forbidden agency employees from arresting reckless drivers in the state.

The Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, on behalf of the LASTMA General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, issued a statement on Friday refuting false online reports that LASTMA employees were forbidden from stopping drivers who violate the 2018 Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law.

Oreagba noted in a statement that the bogus report, which he blamed on the actions of anonymous troublemakers, had been repeated online since February 2020 despite being debunked numerous times by LASTMA management.

He issued a warning to citizens, particularly drivers, to be on the lookout for false online reports that try to upheave society and cause confusion.

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.

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“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.”

Oregba added that the agency is currently using cutting-edge technological innovations to address traffic challenges, including a signalized intersection and junction improvement and new handheld Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices that record real-time traffic violations on the road.