ATTACK ON LASTMA OFFICERS: JOURNALIST BLAMES FAMILIARITY, BRIBERY FOR LOSS OF RESPECT
A journalist, Olayiwola Ibrahim of Security Monitor News, has reacted to the recent press release by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on the impoundment of 84 vehicles and the attack on its officers at Idumota, Iddo, Ijora-Olopa, Costain and Onipanu.
In a statement made available to Security Monitor News, Ibrahim condemned the attack on LASTMA personnel while carrying out their statutory duties, but noted that the agency must look inward to address the root cause of the incessant assaults on its officers.
According to him, the major reason LASTMA officers are attacked during enforcement is that many of them have compromised their authority through undue familiarity with commercial drivers and officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
He alleged that it has become common practice for some officers to collect bribes from commercial buses and in return allow them to drive against traffic (one-way) and operate illegal garages.
In many locations across Lagos State, LASTMA officers use civilians standing across the road to help them collect money from motorists and drivers.
When you do this, you cannot expect those same drivers to respect you when you want to enforce the law, Ibrahim said.
He described the situation as shameful, noting that officers who are meant to diligently enforce traffic laws have instead become part of the problem.
This happens all through Lagos State with the involvement of LASTMA officers who are meant to carry out their duties diligently but have failed to do so, he added.
Ibrahim therefore called on the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, to begin unscheduled visitations to enforcement spots across the state in disguise to see things for himself.
He said such visits would expose the misconduct of erring officers, help avert future attacks on personnel, and ensure that those found culpable are brought to book.
The journalist further noted that the act of indiscipline is not limited to LASTMA alone, as similar conducts have been observed among some officers of the Nigeria Police Force and even the Nigerian Army.
There must be law-abiding conduct among officers themselves.
This is the only way commuters and motorists can respect them, he
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