Enforcement of traffic laws:
Govt refutes allegation of disagreement with LAHA

By RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE
Posted: Thursday, July 8, 2010

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Professor Bamidele Badejo on Wednesday reaffirmed that there is no disagreement between the State Government and the State House of Assembly over the enforcement of Traffic Laws against commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as ‘Okada’ in the state.
Professor Badejo who made this known during an inter-ministerial press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa Secretariat said that the Ministry honoured the invitation of the Legislators to clarify issues about the rules and regulations under which the commercial motorcyclists were operating in the state.
He added that they also wanted to know if new laws have been made concerning the operation of the motorcyclists or if the ministry is only enforcing laws already in place.
Professor Badejo explained that the Ministry during the session at the House also made it clear to the members that there are no new laws but that the Ministry is only enforcing existing road traffic laws, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) laws and the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) laws as it relates to how commercial cyclists operate.
He reiterated that the House posited that since the laws are already in place and is being enforced and offenders being contravened, the essence of stating a specific date as a date of commencement is not necessary.
Professor Badejo said in line with the advice of the House, the Ministry is currently  extracting some relevant sections from the operating laws concerning road traffic laws, MVAA laws and LASTMA laws towards coming up with a law and order regime which will be made public about the operation of the commercial motorcyclists.  
The Commissioner hinted that the House of Assembly is also very concerned in ensuring a curbing of the excesses of the commercial motorcyclists just like the State Government.
He said this has even led the House of Assembly to setting up a committee of the House which visited strategic locations like the orthopedic hospitals and invited submission from stakeholders to see things for itself concerning the operation of Okadas.
Badejo  explained that the committee set up by the House gave a report that corroborated what the ministry had earlier reported, adding that the legislators did not join issues with the government but have only assisted in clarifying issues so that the Ministry does not run foul of the law.
Also present at the briefing were the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele who was represented by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Segun Adedokun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Seyi Coker and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Young Arebamen.