Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has condemned the arbitrary use of siren by public office holders.
Fashola spoke yesterday at the 13th National Council on Transportation meeting at the Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos.
He described the practice as oppression and abuse of tax payers’ money.
The governor asked why public office holders should disturb the peace of the people who elected them and gave them the free cars they drive.
He said: “Let us get rid of all these sirens. They are not made here. We enrich the economies of the countries that make them. People use loud horns that are meant for emergencies. Are we in a state of perpetual emergency?

“From the day I became governor, I have not had cause to use it and I do not intend to use it. I detest noise. It is even worse that people elect us to manage public transport on their behalf and we choose to escape from it, after riding in a free car, coupled with the free fuel. It is an abdication of duty. My commissioners have clear orders on that and they will lose their jobs if they do.”
Fashola said the country can develop a public transport system that responds to the people’s needs, creates jobs, promotes economic growth and improves national security.

He said: “Every unqualified person goes by our security post using siren and we expect to be safe. Those we put there to protect us cannot even detect who is who. So when they approach a check point with a kidnapped victim in their boot, they just put on their siren and drive away.”
Minister of Transport Umar Idris said Nigeria’s transportation system would soon be one of the best in sub-Sahara Africa.
He said the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Institute of Transportation Technology, Zaria, and the Maritime Operators of Nigeria, Oron had been empowered to provide services in maritime policy formulation and administration.
Idris said the Federal Government would rehabilitate railways across the country.

He said: “Work is ongoing on the rehabilitation of the Eastern Narrow Gauge Line, Port Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Enugu-Markurdi-Lafia-Kuru-Bauchi-Gombe-Ashaka-Maiduguri, with brank lines at Kuru to Jos, Kafachan and Kaduna. Trains are expected to be back on track in these corridors next year.”
Under the railway modernisation programme, he said the construction of Standard Gauge from Abuja (Idu)-Kaduna has attained 68 per cent completion, while the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Line has attained 77 per cent completion.
Both Lines are expected to be opened next year.
The minister said the contract for Lagos–Ibadan Double Track Standard Gauge Line had been awarded and funding arrangements were ongoing with the China Exim Bank.
He said the ministry had commissioned consultants to carry out feasibility studies for seven new standard gauge railways: The Lagos- Ibadan-Osogbo-Baro–Abuja high speed; Lagos-Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Ore-Benin City; Benin-Agbor-Asaba–Onitsha-Nnewi-Owerri-Aba with additional line from Onitsha-Enugu-Abakaliki; the coastal railway line from Benin City- Sapele-Warri-Yenagoa-Port Harcourt-Aba-Uyo-Calabar with a branch line from Akampa-Ikom-Obudu Cattle Ranch; Ajaokuta (Eganyi)-Obajana-Jankura- Baro-Abuja with additional line from Ajaokuta-Otukpo; Eganyi (near Ajaokuta)-Lokoja-Abaji-Abuja, which have reached advance stages, and Zaria–Funtua-Tsafe-Gusau-Kaura-Namoda-Sokoto.


SOURCE: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/fashola-kicks-siren-use-public-officers/

God bless our future president.

God Bless Fashola!!!!

If only other governors could emulate this man.....

This is aw a leader should be!!!! Pls BRF give orders to d banks too to stop harassing Ppl wif dia sirens

kudos to the masses leader, brf