SURE-P, AN ARM OF FERMA, OVERTAKES LASTMA ON FEDERAL ROADS

Officials of the Federal Taskforce operating in Lagos on Tuesday sacked officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, from controlling traffic on federal roads in Lagos.

Scores of the officials dressed in grey and black uniforms were seen controlling traffic on tollgate and Ojota area while LASTMA officials had to give way to them to avert crisis.

At Ojota, the Federal Taskforce, sponsored under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, took over the road from LASTMA officials and a clash became imminent before the police intervened to salvage the situation.

It was gathered that the federal taskforce men stormed Ojota, in Ikorodu Road around 7.00am and took over from LASTMA, leading to confusion in the area.

Also, a statement from the Lagos State Government and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba said the police in Lagos have intercepted a strange group of usurpers posing as traffic officials on Lagos roads.

He said dressed in grey and black uniforms, the 35-man group, invaded Lagos roads such as Ojota, Toll gate and Ikorodu Road at about 7.00 a.m., causing confusion on the roads in their attempt to take over the job of LASTMA.

Federal task force officials: take over Lagos traffic control

“The unknown people, whose intention could not be easily ascertained, were seen positioned in strategic locations where they engaged LASTMA officials who challenged them in arguments, claiming that they were sent to take over federal roads.

“They took Lagosians by surprise and instilled fear in a lot of people who were going to their offices early, as many could not explain their mission in the areas noted for being peaceful and hitch-free.

“It took the intervention of the Police from the Lagos Command, to get them off the road and return normalcy on the roads after about four hours of causing confusion, attempting to fight LASTMA and generally disturbing the peace of the areas,” he said.

Ibirogba appealed to the public to remain calm and go about their normal duties, no matter any form of provocation and or intimidation this faceless group or any other trouble makers may want to plunge them into.

“Let us be more security conscious and report cases of strange movement in our area to the police. Let us also make use of the emergency numbers – 767 or 121 to abate or avert trouble,” he said.

Also, a statement from the Ministry of Transportation and signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa said the federal taskforce was illegal and invaded the roadways with a view to causing public disturbance as they did not have the backing or the support of the Lagos State Government.

“They will therefore disturb the operations of the State Traffic Management Personnel already positioned at various traffic points across the State. The Lagos State Government is therefore using this medium to call on the handlers of this faceless group to withdraw them immediately so as not to breach the peace and tranquility the State currently enjoys,” it said.

However, Coordinator of the Task Force, Mr. Abdurazak Rafiu had said that the taskforce was not illegal and that they were not thugs, saying that the programme is under SURE-P, adding that 5,000 of them would be deployed to Lagos roads to control traffic.