Commercial bus drivers and conductors will begin to wear uniforms and
badges as from January 2013, says the Lagos State Government.
Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed this at the
weekend at a sensitisation programme for transporters on the new Road
Traffic Law at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja,
Lagos.
According to Opeifa, from 1 January, all commercial bus drivers and
conductors would begin to wear uniforms and badges in line with the
provision of the traffic law.
He explained that the state government wants to sanitise commercial road
transportation in the
state so that operators in the sector could be proud of their job while quacks would be eliminated.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye,
declared that the state Road Traffic Law was not intended to be another
source of revenue generation forthe state government, stressing that the
lawwas rather enacted for public good and to protect the interest of
the citizens.
Ipaye stated that the penalties for road traffic offences were to serve
as a deterrent to road traffic offenders thereby guaranteeing safety on
the roads. He called on law enforcement agents to always seek how they
could assist road users to comply with traffic rules rather than
focusing on arresting of people on flimsy excuses.
The commissioner enjoined members of the public who were aggrieved by
their arrest and penalties imposed on them on account of traffic
offences could approach the Office of Public Defender which would defend
them free of charge.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lateef Ibirogba urged them to
first comply with the law, insisting that in any civilised society
there must be rules and regulations which must be obeyed for there to be
peace and order.
Special Adviser to the State Governor on Political and Legislative
Powers, Muslim Folami, stated that the sensitization programme was aimed
at educating members of the road transport unions on their rights and
obligations under the road traffic law so as to facilitate compliance to
the law.