Lagos
State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode says he did not at any time direct the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) from doing their job which is to maintain order,arrested contravened vehicle and motorists.
In
a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr
Habib Aruna, the State Government said it had received reports of some
criminally minded people attacking officials of LASTMA on their
legitimate duties on the pretext that the Governor had directed at his
meeting with LASTMA officials on Wednesday to desist from arresting motorists who contravened traffic laws.
The
statement said in areas such as Badagry on Thursday, some officials of
the agency were attacked and maimed by some motorists on the premise
that Governor Ambode had directed that no vehicle or motorists should be
arrested by LASTMA anymore.
It added that when the
Governor met the LASTMA officials alongside operatives of Kick Against
Indiscipline, KAI and the Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, on Wednesday,
he had said: “Don’t victimise Lagosians, there are more civil ways to
control and arrest offenders. From now on, no harassment; you are
enforcement officers and not harassment officers, arrest people in a
civil manner.”
The statement said the governor also
urged the LASTMA officials to embrace the use of technology in effecting
arrest of contravened vehicles instead of physical arrest of motorists
and vehicles at the scene of incidents.
It further said
that the views of the Governor at the event were widely reflected in
the media reportage of the event on Thursday.
The State
Government warned that the full weight of the law would be brought to
bear on all erring members of the public who attempt any illegality in
terms of obstructing operatives of LASTMA from carrying out their lawful
duties.
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