INSIGHT
CPL INSIGHT
The Menace called LASTMA by Adetunji Eleso
February 2003.
While acknowledging the fact that in some respects, the Lagos State Transport Monitoring Authority (LASTMA) has helped the traffic situation in Lagos, Nigeria in general, I have for the last three (3) weeks noticed a trend that has been puzzling to say the least. This is largely in the way they carry out their duties of traffic management. My focus is on Victoria Island, Lagos where I work and spend most of my time and as such affords me the opportunity to observe LASTMA closely. The recent trend was the declaration of Adeyemo Alakija Street (in Victoria Island), a "one way street".
The result is that they tow away many cars daily to their premises and motorists pay as much as Naira 5000* to get their vehicles released. While my main discussion is not on the legality of making such a busy street a "one-way" street, I want to point out the need for a adequate communication and education of the masses with the introduction of such an initiative
First of all, we all just noticed the LASTMA Officials 3 weeks ago, towing cars that were coming into Adeyemo Alakija from Ozumba Mbadiwe after the turning to the Ikoyi Bridge, and it makes me wonder why our government has to approach issues from an "enriching their pockets" perspective instead of alleviating the troubles of the electorate.
Was there a warning or enlightenment campaign telling motorists that the popular street was about to be declared one-way? No. Was there any clearly visible sign to tell motorists that it was an offense to approach AIB Plaza from Ozumba Mbadiwe? No. At first, people were vehemently arguing about the logic of making such a major street, one way and in utter disbelief at the new law, repeatedly got their cars towed. One particular afternoon, I witnessed one young man who, in utter frustration at the sight of the clamp approaching his car, stripped all his clothing, (leaving nothing to one's imagination) and was ranting and raving and succeeded in making a scene that lasted for about 30minutes before his car was let off the hook. On another occasion, I was told that a woman who was about to have her car towed went to the LASTMA officials and gave them a bribe of N2500. The officials released her car, and after telling her driver to drive off and wait at a certain destination, came back and made a scene about how they extorted money off her without receipt and succeeded in getting a refund and embarrassing the officials.
Secondly, while towing one's vehicle, the process of clamping the bumper to LASTMA's towing vehicle damages the bumper with dents and scratches therefore, after paying for the car's release; there is the added headache of repairing the car. In this regard, I believe law enforcement officers should not be above the law. I would much like to see a better judicial system in Lagos where LASTMA can be sued for damaging people's cars, which would make them more careful in their operations.
To move forward, the trend where our law enforcement officers do not correct people but rather punish them should change. Our policemen are a prime example, where early in the morning and at all other hours of the day, you find them hiding behind billboards on "one way" roads, waiting for the victim that would venture on such roads, then they would pounce on them and extort them, that is not to say that such motorists do not deserve this treatment, but my grouse is why they hide in wait for victims (like armed robbers do). Law enforcement should be in the interest of the citizenry and as such warnings by way of billboards; enlightenment campaigns should run their course before the actual enforcement, as the overall aim is to better the lives of the citizenry and not necessarily to extort money from the people.
* More recently the penalty is a fine of N25,000 and a trip to the Psychiatric Hospital for a medical test to verify the sanity of the offender.