Temidayo Akinsuyi,

LAGOS – Before he was elected the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lagos state in the 2019 general elections, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, then governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) already had a clear-cut programme about his mission in the Alausa Government House and his vision for the state. In his campaigns, he spoke passionately about his agenda to make ‘Lagos Greater’ through people-oriented policies and programmes. In order to actualise this vision, he came up with Project T.H.E.M.E.S, an acronym for his administration’s six strategic development agenda namely, Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism as well as Security and Governance.

Traffic Management And Transportation

On the first acronym, Traffic Management and Transportation, the governor says there are quick gains to be made from an efficient transportation and traffic management in the state. According to him, Lagos economy is not being optimally exploited because of the chaotic transport system in the state, leading to congestion and gridlock which, on many occasions, have ground economic and social activities in the state to a halt.

He also said he believes that when the state’s transportation system improves and the traffic situation is properly managed, it will help a great deal in unlocking the state’s economic potential, leading to the growth of its GDP which, at the moment, is below optimum value.

As a means of achieving this, governor upon assumption of office declared a state of emergency on Lagos bad roads and ordered massive repair work on critical highways across the state. He also set up a target of rehabilitation of two hundred and fifty kilometres for the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC). Unlike in the past where potholes and huge craters are major features on Lagos roads causing slow movements of vehicles, the potholes are now quickly fixed while some inner roads in the state are rehabilitated.

The governor also embarked on expansion of road networks in the state to pave way for free flow of traffic. This was basically done by removing four major roundabouts across the Lagos metropolitan area which includes Allen Avenue Roundabout, Maryland Roundabout, Ikotun Roundabout, and second roundabout along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also deployed eight multi-national construction firms – Julius Berger, Hitech, Arab Contractors, Metropolitan Construction, Slavabogu Construction, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Rajaf Foundation Construction, and RCF Nigeria Ltd. He gave them the mandate to immediately mobilise their equipment to sites and begin commencement of major construction work on identified highways considered critical to the reduction of traffic congestion in the state.

Also speaking at the inauguration of an ultra- modern office accommodation for the Lagos Vehicle Inspection Officers, Sanwo-Olu said in order to address the issue of gridlock in the state, which according to him, is often as a result of vehicles’ breakdown, traffic officials have been empowered to ensure that only roadworthy vehicles would ply the roads for the safety of lives and property of residents.

He however stated that Lagos has been able to achieve 21st Century improvement in service delivery in the transport sector through technological innovations such as the use of Automated Number Plate Recognition, electronic testing, Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service, Forensic Laboratory and Auto-Vin, and E-testing for driver licence.

The governor maintained that the state will consolidate on the success recorded in the new infrastructure and technology and replicate similar offices of the same capacity in all the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development authorities in the state. He urged traffic officials to justify government’s investment in infrastructure by rededicating themselves to duty and ensuring genuine commitment to duty, saying his administration will remain committed to more investment in the transport sector.

Late last year, the state government launched a special security team to curb the activities of one-way drivers and other traffic offenders in the state. Codenamed ‘Anti-Oneway and Other Traffic Offenders Squad’ the team was raised by the Commissioner of Police in Lagos,Hakeem Odumosu, at the instance of Governor Sanwo-Olu and part of its mandates are to arrest and impound vehicles plying one-way, BRT lanes, and motorcyclists operating in restricted areas. Since commencement of their operation, over 200 vehicles whose drivers flouted the directives were auctioned. Though some Lagosians have condemned this move as too punitive, it has gone a long way in restoring sanity on the roads.

However, one major area the governor has demonstrated lack of capacity is the menace of commercial motorcycles (okada) and tricycle riders (keke Marwa) in the state. Despite the restrictions placed on them by the state governments, okada riders, mostly from the northern parts of the country have continued to cause mayhem in the state. Some riders even brazenly ply their trades around Alausa, the seat of government, in most cases, driving against traffic while security agents turned the blind eye. Keke Marwa operators have also joined the fray, plying their trades in areas such as Ogba-to Ojodu Berger, Ikeja to Ogba as well as major highways such as Ikorodu to Ojota and other forbidden routes.

Efforts by the by the state government to arrest errant drivers have been met by resistance leading to violent clashes, resulting in deaths in some cases. Some of officials of the state government who spoke with Daily Independent attributed the development to the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests and the loss of job occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, some residents in Lagos State have expressed dissatisfaction over the violation of the directives of Governor Sanwo-Olu by VIOs or officials of the Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS) in the state, a state traffic-regulating agency that ensures the presence of sound vehicles on the road. The agency is a directorate of the Ministry of Transportation.

The governor, in November 2019, ordered the state’s Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to desist from operating during the morning period. According to him, the move is to curb traffic gridlock experienced during the peak periods. This is as it is perceived that VIOs contribute to the gridlock. They are believed to do this as they normally stop vehicles during peak periods to demand for vehicle documents.

Giving the new directive, the governor said the officers would now operate between 12.00 p.m and 3.00 p.m.

“We are going to restrict the operation of the men of the VIO to off-peak periods. That is between the hours of 12 mid-day and 3 pm,” he said.

Initially, the VIOs complied with the directives and adjusted their schedules. But few months later, they have returned to their former schedule, operating as early as 9 a.m in places like Ojodu Berger, Surulere, Ojota, Abule-Egba, Victoria Island, and other areas in the state.

Ogunwale Alabi, a businessman, said he challenged some VIO operating in Surulere. He asked them what they were doing on the road in the morning but they could not provide a satisfactory answer to the question.

I saw them at Alaka area of Surulere . They were arresting vehicles and there was a long queue due to their operations. When I got to where they were, I asked them why they were on the road but they said they were enforcing traffic guidelines on COVID-19. That, to me, is not convincing enough as they were stopping private vehicles, too.”

Also speaking on the development, Barr. Monday Ubani, former Second Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said Governor Sanwo-Olu should address Lagosians on why the directive he gave concerning the operation of VIOs was being flouted.

“My take is that our laws and our pronouncements are obeyed. It is not in the interest of any leader to make a pronouncement after which that directive will be observed in breach. That is not how to move the country or the state forward.

“I think the right thing is to remind the governor – and I want you to put this particular question directly to the commissioner or any of the governor’s aides.

“What has happened to the pronouncement which the governor has made on the operation time of VIOs which is now being observed in breach? But what I will say at the moment is that it is very condemnable for a governor to make a pronouncement and people who are his workers will be disobeying that particular order.”

The next article will focus on another important aspect of the THEMES agenda, which is Security and Governance.
https://independent.ng/two-years-of-sanwo-olus-themes-agenda-focus-on-traffic-management/

Make we no lie he really tried

(However, one major area the governor has demonstrated lack of capacity is the menace of commercial motorcycles (okada) and tricycle riders (keke Marwa) in the state.)
very true. sanwo needs to buckle up

Nice one, my governor.
Carry go.
Second term is assured.

e go hard ooo except if Tinbu is pleased with him

tit:
Nice one, my governor.
Carry go.
Second term is assured.