By Dada Ahmed
Abuja
As Nigerians gradually put up behind the effect of #the #ENDSARS saga, thee President, the Road Users Development Network of Nigeria(RUNN), Dr John John Uket, has called on the Governor of Lagos state, Mr Babajide Sanwolu to immediately
commence confidence building process for Road traffic officers in his state.
The boss of the NGO made call on Friday at ONE-DAY NATIONAL DIALOGUE TAGGED , “TRAFFIC
MANAGEMENT: PUBLIC POST #ENDSARS REASSURANCE DIALOGUE.”
He said his call was prompted by the fact that traffic situation in Lagos and Abuja seemed to be getting worse in the last one week or so.
John expressed concern that in Lagos, commuters spent hours in bus stops and motor-parks, adding that tye traffic situation was better imagined than experienced.
Uket noted that the Department of Road Traffic Services (aka VIO), LASTMA and others had left the roads unattended to for the fear of the mayhem of the recent uprisings.
“We are aware that some of the road traffic officers were attacked or had their offices burnt or badly affected during the #ENDSARS protest which was later hijacked by hoodlums and
touts.
“In Lagos to be precise, LASTMA officials must return fully to the road as the situation now is unbearable for Lagosians and visitors as well. We are hopeful that other States Governors will as well work
on modalities of improving traffic management as well,”he said.
The RUDNN president also appealed to the FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Musa
Bello, “to take effective measures of ensuring that our nation’s Capital has an
efficient traffic control and management system as well as viable access roads, especially
improving the road infrastructure at the Apo-Galadima axis of the FCT.”
He said:”In Abuja, driving from AYA in Asokoro to Mararaba in the evening which takes about 20 minutes now takes about two hours or more. In Dutse
Alhaji, Kuje, Galadimawa, Apo, Mpape and other areas, the situation is not different as the extreme traffic chaotic situations persists.
“Beside the negative effect of this on our vehicles which is costing much to repair, its
has damaging consequences on our body and family life. This has given rise to sick people on emergency being left to their fate as well as pregnant women who probably are travailing in labour.
“There is a remarkable surge in road crimes within the FCT and other cities as a result of the absence of road traffic officers on our roads.
“From our observation and findings, the reasons for these severe traffic situations so
experienced is as a result of the absence of road traffic officers and personnel from
agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force (Police Traffic Wardens inclusive),
“We stand, therefore, in solidarity with those personnel who either lost their lives or
belongings to the sad ends of the protest. We equally console with you
“In the spirit of nationhood and patriotism, we want to kindly appeal to you all to let by gone be by gone and forge a new page in our nation’s history.
“For all the traffic officers who are still feeling hurt , we the road users, both
motorists and commuters, say sorry for the actions of the hoodlums as we hope that such
hoodlums will be brought to justice, soon.”
He described RUDNN as an incorporated body
of community volunteers with a primary mandate dedicated to road traffic matters and other innovative information dissemination mechanisms, geared toward improving healthy road culture in line with global best practices.
According to him, membership of the NGO was Our membership was drawn from all bodies, provided they were road Users, basically encompasses motorists and commuters alike with a large number residing in Abuja and Lagos.
Uket added the body also had members from other cities in Nigeria, where they explored ways to improve traffic and road safety on daily basis.
RUDNN also appealed to the FCT ministerthe FCT minister to direct the Management of the Abuja Urban mass Transit Company to return the Urban Mass Transit Buses back to road.
He stressed the need for the management of the FCT to give directive to commence the confidence building processes for Road Traffic officers drawn from all the agencies within the FCT.
This he said was necessary for the traffic personnel to return to the road in the new spirit of nation hood,to ensure effective traffic control and management in order to improve the opportunities of the nation’s economic recovery.
