Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday warned officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs to desist from forcing themselves into vehicles of suspected traffic offenders.
Ambode gave the warning during an interactive session with officials of LASTMA, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI and VIO at Government State House, Ikeja, said the act negates the 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.”
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/ambode-to-lastma-vio-officials-stop-forcing-yourselves-into-motorists-vehicles/#sthash.AhTTKL8Y.dpuf
Without enforcement how are they to do their jobs? Is he saying that motorists can ignore LASTMA instructions?? Or that the LASTMA have to first assess the situation then call the police if its necessary, how possible is that logistically, by the time they call the police, the offender has caused the havoc, broken the law and gone. This seems like a populist stance not fully thought through and makes one worry, do we now have a johnathan in LAGOS with a no enforcement doctrine.