More than two years that the Lagos State Government promised to deploy technology to track traffic violations as a state road traffic manager, who tried to apprehend an erring motorist physically has lost his life in the process.
Jamiu Issa, an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has been fatally hit by a fleeing motorist, who drove against traffic in the Lekki-Ajah area of the state.
It was learnt that the yet-to-be-identified driver had crushed Issa while trying to apprehend him for the traffic offence.
Persecondnews recalls that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in 2020 approved the deployment of technology to improve communication for the agency.
On February 26, 2021, the then General Manager of the LASTMA, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, a former Deputy Director, Transport Safety at Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), announced that officials of the agency “will start using smart body cameras within the next few weeks to monitor traffic violations.”
This is coming after a viral video that has been in circulation, showed a man driving his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), driving against traffic along International Airport Road, hit a policeman with the car and he fell over the bridge when attempts were made to apprehend him.
Oduyoye spoke while answering questions on a Channels TV programme, “Sunrise Daily”.
The ex-LASTMA boss, who exited office in August 2021, pointed out that technology is the way to go, saying,
“I’m glad that you said that and of course technology is the way to go, our Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is very much on top of that. He approved the deployment of technology for us to improve our communication last year 2020.”
Contacted on the official’s death, the spokesman for LASTMA, Mr Olumide Filade, confirmed the incident, and that the driver was driving against traffic when he rammed into Issa.
“Isa was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“The driver of a green Toyota Sienna vehicle, with number plate, FST 901 AR, knocked down and run over a LASTMA official, Jamiu Issa, who was later confirmed dead, on April 19, 2022.
“The late Issa was said to have approached and accosted the Sienna vehicle driver who was driving against the direction of flow of traffic, facing oncoming vehicles from Chevron towards the Conservation Toll Plaza.
“It was reported that Issa was knocked down and run over by the traffic law offender.
“Issa’s colleague at the scene of the event quickly put a call through to the zonal head while some good Samaritans/eyewitnesses pursued the escaping Sienna driver to the Chevron Waterfront area where he was eventually apprehended, ” Filade said in a statement given to Persecondnews.
Filade said the General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, had commiserated with the family of the deceased and promised that those assaulting and killing the officials in line of duty would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He said he had been handed over to Ajiwe police station for proper investigation.
Motorists and members of the public in Lagos State have criticized the mode of operation of LASTMA, with calls for reforms including the deployment of technology in their operations.
Persecondnews recalls that road hugs and conflicts between the officials of the agency and motorists have been on the rise with allegations of extortion and high-handedness against the officials as some of them take physical possession of motorists’ and drive them.
Experts, who spoke to Persecondnews, said the deployment of technology especially the smart body cameras will go a long way in reducing conflicts and make the operations of LASTMA more credible.
Any erring motorist can also be traced to their homes by getting the registration number of the vehicle, check out the address from licensing office.
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