Operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos Sector Command, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority have agreed to organize a Joint Task Force with other qualified traffic managers to reduce accidents, particularly truck crashes on Lagos roads.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Director of LASTMA’s Public Affairs and Enlightenment department, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, the General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, reportedly agreed to the proposed Joint Task Force during a weekend courtesy call.
Corps Commander Babatunde Farinloye and his staff, the new Sector Commander for FRSC Lagos, presented the idea.
Oreagba revealed that LASTMA had been saving accident victims, particularly those engaged in truck accidents, in coordination with other emergency responders at any emergency or accident scene around the state.
The agencies include the Lagos State Ambulance Services, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Authority, Lagos Fire & Rescue Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“Sequel to the need to prevent further loss of lives and properties through truck crashes on Ojuelegba bridge, LASTMA had deployed trained officers to be disallowing heavy duty trucks/tankers from plying on top Ojuelegba Bridge by Ikorodu Road,” he said, according to the statement.
He maintained that for fairness, equity and quick dispensation of justice on all traffic violators including truck drivers, the Lagos State Mobile would be part of the LASTMA, FRSC joint Task Force on Accident Reduction.
The GM however stated that innocent motorists including other road users who were mostly victims of road accident would be beneficial of this joint task force.
Earlier in his speech, the new Sector Commander FRSC Lagos, Corps Commander Babatunde Farinloye, said the FRSC was primarily established to maintain safety on highways across the country.
Corps Farinloye maintained that the FRSC had been collaborating with individual State Traffic Management Agencies in maintaining standard on road safety management across the country.
According to Farinloye , the FRSC and LASTMA must work together as a team for peace, safety and prosperity on the highways as this would lead to a paradigm shift from usual way of operation to an exceptional and outstanding way.
He called for more public education and enlightenment on motorists disobeying traffic regulations particularly those driving against traffic (one-way) in Lagos State.