By Kazeem Ugbodaga.
The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Rtd Assistant Inspector General of Police, Chris Olakpe, has vowed to deal with any LASTMA officer caught extorting money from motorists.

Olakpe said the era of LASTMA extorting money from motorists was over and that the officers must embrace discipline in the discharge of their duties. The LASTMA CEO who addressed staff on resumption of duty said the officers and rank of LASTMA must brace themselves for the upcoming task of removing traffic gridlocks and associated insecurity from the state roads.

According to him, the officers must henceforth exhibit high level of discipline, commitment and dedication to duty, because gone were the days when officers engaged in extortions of motorists and idle on duty. The new CEO admonished staff to embrace the mantra of change that is blowing across the state or be swept off from duty due to their incorrigibility, while assuring them of his readiness to make the issue of staff welfare a priority.

Olakpe advised traffic officers to implement the state traffic law with civility, decorum and respect to motorists and members of the public. “I am at LASTMA as part of the ongoing efforts to revamp, refocus, improve performance and better relations with the public. Therefore, every LASTMA official is a public relations man of the Agency and must now perform the duty of enforcing traffic law within the ambit of the law,” he said.

He promised to promote good relationship between the agency and other similar agencies in the state for better understanding, cooperation and improved service delivery. Olakpe further sought for support and cooperation of motorists and members of the public in the current effort of the agency to move the Lagos traffic forward.

Receiving the new CEO, the General Manager, LASTMA, Mr. Braimah Bashir assured him of the readiness, support and cooperation of staff, especially now that the current administration wanted to use a seamless traffic to drive the state economy.