LASTMA boss Oreagba
By Sylva Emeka-Okereke, publisher
Like a recurring decimal, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has once again, come under severe attacks, as the agency has been accused of massive frauds, extortions as well as intimidations.
Established on July 15, 2000, the authority was visioned to develop a culture of regulation, control and management of traffic operations, while ensuring a hitch-free traffic flow on Lagos roads.
With a staggering salary of between ₦54,000 to ₦120,000 per month, depending on the rank, the officials of the agency swung into action, amid trailing allegations of being populated with uneducated and street urchins, which the government denied.
Amid these allegations, the officials say they been performing their duties with masculine gusto, though not without public allegations of fraudulent practices.
A Lagos resident, Daniel Ikechukwu Maduabuchi had recently accused the officials of massive frauds.
According to him, if anybody visits LASTMA yards at Sura, Lagos Island and Oshodi, the person would see the massive fraud going on.
His words, “When I went to get my Lagos State Driver’s License from their Office at Oshodi, I saw officials sharing monies openly, some wanted to fight, claiming some people were hiding monies.
“The monies were wrapped in rubber bands and brought in poly bags, they shared and every one of them there got at least N15k each. Another day I was in their office in Oshodi, a female officer drove in a new Toyota Venza”.
“They were hailing and congratulating her. One Baba said, she’s serious and hardworking. He said her team gets at least 20 vehicles daily.
Maduabuchi further stated that he offered lift to the Baba and drove him home, where he made more shocking disclosures.
“We got talking and he told me Sanwo-Olu “put food” in their mouths, he said Ambode removed food from their tables. He said it costs between N1.3m and N2m getting into LASTMA, and if one is “serious and hardworking” you will get double that amount in one year.
He also disclosed that, all of them do daily contributions (Ajoo) and hardly does any officer do less than N10k on daily basis, all from people’s sweat.
“Every unit has target of vehicles to catch daily, the minimum is 30 vehicles per day, he stated listing the targets to include,
–Apple junction and Amuwo Odofin has a target of 40 vehicles daily,
–Iponri has 50
–Lekki phase one to Ajah has 150 vehicles.
Others are:
–Berger to Iyana Oworo has 150:
–Iyana Oworo to Oshodi has 100;
–Ikorodu to Ojota has 100:
–Oshodi to Mile 2 has 50,
–Oshodi to Iyana Ipaja has 50.
–Costain, CMS, Bolade, Under Bridge Oshodi, Awolowo way Ikeja, Obalende and
Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue are slaughter houses.
But reacting, on the allegations, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba said such allegations calls for inwards looks and instills more discipline into the personnel, which is ongoing.
He said it is imperative to note, that “such article is full of sensation, mischief and propaganda; nobody pays for employment in LASTMA”.
“The writer alleged that when he went for his drivers’ license at Oshodi, he saw LASTMA officials sharing monies.
LASTMA does not share the same compound with the agency that issues driver’s licenses, how then can he conclude that they are LASTMA staff?. “We, at LASTMA cannot dispute the facts that some officers may step out of line by collecting grafts”.
Oreagba however emphasized that the process of administrative action and discipline was ongoing in the agency with the intent of having well-behaved, decent and dedicated personnel that would serve the motorists better on Lagos roads.
According to the writer, “the level of extortion in Lagos is disheartening”, this is complete wrong use of the word extortion”, Oreagba stated
In a press statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LASTMA, Mr. Filade Olumide, the agency said “It is also imperative to state that as we strengthen enforcement and with its resultant effects of hassle-free traffic flow and better travel time, it is expected that some people, who do not see any good thing in this administration, will result into mischief and propaganda”.
“We will continue to strive to prevent lawlessness on Lagos roads and promote discipline, sanity, and order through the application of enforcement with civility and technology to achieve voluntary compliance on the roads, Oreagba added.
He however informed well-meaning and concerned Lagosians as well as motoring public of various windows through which complaints can be channeled for prompt action and such complaints shall be investigated dispassionately with dispatch; the numbers include: 08129928490, 08129928515. Comptrollers; 08129928448, 08129928749, 08129928512, 08129928542, 08023270248, 08160581700
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