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Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) has condemned in very strong terms the blatant violations of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) laws by some men of the Nigerian Army.
Describing the violations as “a dramatic show of shame,” LASTMA, in a statement, said some personnel of the Nigerian Military recently threw caution and decency to the wind when they descended heavily on a LASTMA official, Peter Owolabi, for daring to take the photographs of their black Honda Accord car with number registration CP 839 YAB which violated the BRT laws at Obanikoro Bus stop along Ikorodu Road in Lagos.
The unruly attitude of the personnel, according to the statement, attracted the attention of members of the public, who jeered and admonished the military men to respect civil authority.
The statement signed by LASTMA Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Bola Ajao, said the soldiers were stopped during a routine exercise to prohibit the illegal use of BRT bus corridor by other motorists.
“The violators were presented with fine ticket in accordance with the new approach of the agency of booking offenders on the spot and allow continuing with journey without their vehicle being impounded. However, unlike their civilian counterparts, the Military officers refused to collect the tickets and rather opted to obstruct movement of other vehicles from exiting the corridor and in the process caused pandemonium and created ugly scenes unbefitting modern army,” the statement said.
“They rained avalanche of blows and kick anybody holding recording device or watching the show of shame. In the process, the agency`s cameraman was manhandled and camera smirched in order to prevent the recording of their uncivilised conduct. It’s worthy to note that LASTMA officials are only empowered by the law to ensure orderliness, sanity and safety to Lagos roads. The attack was a clear case of what LASTMA personnel usually go through in the hands of some uniform personnel at a time that the state government is making effort to restore orderliness to the state road.
“ It has become habit for some of the military personnel driving commercial buses in uniform to flout the state traffic law, collaborate or encourage commercial drivers to violate traffic law on Lagos roads.”
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of the Agency, Bashir Braimah, who led the officials out in the joint enforcement of the BRT violation by LASTMA, Military Police and The Nigerian Police, lamented the act of indiscipline of the Nigerian Military whose men violate the BRT laws with impunity.
He noted that military men should be the custodian of law but regrettably most of them are working against the law.
He added that law is no respecter of nobody and the road traffic law must be obeyed in other ensure the safety of lives and property. Braimah hinted that over 15 vehicles belonging to the military violated BRT law during the exercise that took place twice last, saying while some were civil and remorse, others were aggressive and unruly.
The General Manager noted that all the vehicles found in the BRT corridors were either driven by the military or with military paraphernalia hanging in the vehicles. He appealed to all security formations to collaborate and work in harmony with LASTMA so as achieve a common goal of a better environment.
