Akinwunmi Ambode, the governor of Lagos State, has asked officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs to stop forcing themselves into vehicles of suspected traffic offenders.
Ambode gave the directive on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 during an interactive session with officials of LASTMA, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI and VIO at the Government State House, Ikeja.
According to the Vanguard the governor said such act were contrary to his administration’s promise to residents prior to the 2015 governorship election.:
The governor said “I want LASTMA, KAI, and VIO to help this government deliver on the promises made to the public, and there are two promises: to make life simpler for every resident of Lagos and make each resident happier than before.
“I don’t want officers that will torture my citizens. They may be offenders but don’t torture them. Don’t jump into their cars to enforce arrest. This is where you have to be creative and use technology in the implementation of the law. For now, no harassment.”
LASTMA and VIO have become a terror to many Lagos drivers, arresting vehicles for frivolous excuses and imposing harsh fines on them, while KAI have a reputation for destroying traders goods and even arresting them for unfathomable ‘indiscipline” offences.
