Officials of KOTRAMA.
By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
A Lokoja-based legal practitioner, Bamidele Suru, has described the conduct of the officials of Kogi State Traffic Maintenance Agency (KOTRAMA) as illegal and against the law establishing it.
The Reporters recalls that the Kogi State Assembly passed the law establishing KOTRAMA and was assented to by the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaha Bello.
Suru expressed dismay that whereas (KOTRAMA) was set up by the state government to control traffic in the state,the organization had deviated from its core mandate, adding that its personnel had now arrest motorists and charged them for one offence to another.
Suru,who stated this during a public hearing on some Bills at the State House of Assembly, added that KOTRAMA has not followed due process in its operations.
The lawyer, who recalled that he was at the Public Hearing of the Bill establishing KOTRAMA, added that “the Agency is currently operating outside its enabling law by carrying out the duties of Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and that of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Suru,who noted that KOTRAMA called on the State House of Assembly to rise up and salvage the illegality of the Agency by employing competent hands to implement the laws establishing the agency.
The Reporters recalls that a member,.Anthony Ujah, also expressed concern over the attitude of the officials of KOTRAMA.
Raising a motion of urgent public importance on the floor of Assembly some ago, Ujah, representing Olomaboro Constituency expressed displeasure at the officials of KOTRAMA whom he accused of extorting motorists and infringing on the rights of Kogi people.
Ujah,who raised the motion when the management of the agency were summoned to the Assembly on such allegations, reminded the agency of the reason behind its establishment.
He said, “The House has empowered the KOTRAMA officers as new marshals to sensitise the road users on proper usage of roads and enforcement.”
According to him, KOTRAMA was also established to control traffic at intersections and roundabouts, help school children at Zebra crossings,help accident victims and clear off the road of accident debris.
According to one Foluke Odogin, KOTRAMA was established because Kogi State connects most atates in Nigeria by road.
She said:”The State Government, in its quest to ensure safety, orderliness, adherence to traffic rules on these roads, has set up Kogi State Traffic Management Authority (KOTRAMA) to enforce the traffic rules and regulations.
“KOTRAMA is empowered by law as our new road Marshalls with modern road management techniques,in conjunction with other road enforcement agencies to sensitize the road users, on proper usage of road and enforcement.
“It is not about fine, charges or revenue,It’s about safety first, so as to record less death, injuries, road disorderliness, congestion, conflicts and economic losses on our roads.”
Reacting to the lawyer’s comment on the organization while speaking in a radio programme”Oga Driver” in Lokoja on Wednesday, its General Manager,Mr Emmanuel Stephen, faulted the lawyer in the name of KOTRAMA.
He reminded Suru that “KOTRAMA is not an agency as he( Suru) put it but an authority.
The presenter promised to bring the two parties to the programme, for them to explain their side of the coin,on air, to the listening public.
