…Solicits religious institutions’ strategic partnership in entrenching responsible motoring; insists traffic governance must transcend governmental intervention
In a compelling reaffirmation of its institutional resolve to entrench inclusive traffic governance, strengthen grassroots participation and consolidate operational preparedness ahead of the forthcoming Ember Months and the highly anticipated Detty December festivities, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has formally decorated and inducted over 100 LASTMA Mayors into an expanded volunteer-driven traffic advocacy network.
The colourful Investiture, Rebranding and Induction Ceremony, held at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos, constitutes a far-reaching stakeholder mobilisation initiative designed to institutionalized community-oriented traffic enlightenment, galvanized civic participation and reinforce voluntary support for the preservation of vehicular orderliness across Lagos State before, during and after the festive season.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, unequivocally asserted that the onerous responsibility of effective traffic administration cannot be left exclusively to governmental institutions, emphasising that sustainable mobility governance is predicated upon collective ownership, shared accountability and the conscientious participation of citizens.
He posited that the enlistment of over 100 LASTMA Mayors would substantially reinforce the Agency’s public enlightenment architecture and augment its community-based operational support through voluntary interventions, grassroots advocacy, motorists’ sensitization and the widespread dissemination of traffic safety information.
According to the General Manager “the initiative is deliberately structured to complement the statutory responsibilities and field operations of uniformed LASTMA personnel, thereby engendering a more integrated, responsive and efficient traffic management framework capable of addressing the anticipated surge in vehicular movements during the Ember Months and the December festivities”.
Bakare-Oki further described the LASTMA Mayors as indispensable community liaison ambassadors whose grassroots influence and proximity to residents, commercial transport operators, market executives and other critical stakeholders would facilitate the propagation of traffic discipline, voluntary compliance and responsible road-use culture.
In a related development, the General Manager passionately appealed to religious leaders across Christian and Islamic denominations to deploy their considerable moral influence, spiritual authority and congregational platforms towards amplifying the Agency’s road safety advocacy campaign.
He urged clerics, imams, pastors and other religious functionaries to consistently incorporate messages of responsible motoring, pedestrian consciousness and strict observance of traffic regulations into their sermons, religious gatherings, fellowship programmes and other faith-based engagements.
Specifically, he admonished religious leaders to impress upon motorists the grave consequences of dangerous driving practices, particularly driving against traffic (one-way), excessive speeding, reckless overtaking, indiscriminate parking and other flagrant violations capable of precipitating catastrophic road traffic incidents, avoidable fatalities and extensive destruction of property.
He equally accentuated the imperative of proactive vehicular maintenance, particularly regular inspection of braking systems, tyres, steering mechanisms, lighting installations and other essential mechanical components, stressing that roadworthiness is a non-negotiable prerequisite for safe motoring.
Bakare-Oki cautioned that the commercial excitement, social engagements and recreational attractions traditionally associated with the festive season must not be allowed to degenerate into traffic indiscipline, reckless motoring or preventable road tragedies. He consequently charged motorists to demonstrate heightened vigilance, restraint, patience and an unwavering commitment to established traffic regulations.
Meanwhile, the Director, Traffic Advocacy and Special Mayors, Mr. Awoyemi Jimmy, reassured Lagos residents of LASTMA’s sustained commitment to intensifying strategic traffic deployment, operational surveillance, motorists’ enlightenment and inter-agency collaboration towards guaranteeing enhanced vehicular mobility, pedestrian protection and uninterrupted traffic circulation across the State’s critical transportation corridors throughout the festive period.
He further underscored the significance of the newly inaugurated volunteer structure, describing it as an additional institutional mechanism for broadening public engagement, strengthening traffic consciousness and promoting voluntary adherence to road-use regulations.
Similarly, the Coordinator of the State Mayors of Traffic (SMT), Mr. Tajudeen Othman, assured the Lagos State Government and LASTMA management of the Mayors’ unwavering commitment to discharging their assigned responsibilities with diligence, integrity, discipline and exemplary cooperation with members of the public.
He affirmed that the newly decorated Mayors would leverage their respective community networks to promote traffic enlightenment, encourage voluntary compliance and complement the Agency’s efforts towards achieving a safer, more orderly and efficiently managed transportation environment.
