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Fashola Receives Tribunal Report On NURTW, Vows To Enthrone Law And Order In Transportation Sector

Oct 27, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) Monday received the report of the Tribunal of Enquiry into the activities of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with a vow that the State Government would enthrone law and order in the State’s Transportation Sector.

Governor Fashola also used the occasion to reiterate his warning to commercial motorcycle operators (Okada) in the State that his administration would enforce all law relating to traffic in the State pointing out that the laws of one passenger per motor-cycle operator would be strictly enforced.

“Let me take this opportunity to inform and notify that this government will not stand by and let the Okada operators do business at the expense of the peoples’ lives. Those operating must do so in accordance with the law in terms of licensing and registration and subject to all regulations of our traffic laws. We will send our officers to make sure that the laws are implemented”, the Governor said.

The Tribunal, headed by Honourable Justice Dolapo Akinsanya (rtd), was set up in June this year to look into the current structure, role and operations of the State’s Chapter of the NURTW.

Speaking at the short but impressive ceremony which took place at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Fashola who emphasized the importance of transportation in the life of the people, lamented that operations in the sector has been affected negatively by lawlessness and lack of order, adding that the State Government has the responsibility to enthrone law and order in the sector.

The Governor who described Transportation as the backbone and blood vessel of the economy, declared “Next to security, the life of our people is dependent on transportation. How fast goods and services can move from one place to another, how fast people can get to and from work and from one place to another has a lot of implication on the quality of life of our people”.

According to him, “How efficient we can respond to the challenges of traffic situation will have a monumental impact on the quality of life of our people”, adding that Government has already taken its first steps by addressing the transportation infrastructure in terms of roads, jetty terminal for ferries which, he said are nearing completion and will be opened sometime next year.

He said government was also conscious of the need for law and order in the sector and in the state hence it was empowering its judiciary, building new magistrate courts and preparing the magistracy to deal with the issues of public transportation such as violation of traffic and environmental laws.

“While we are doing all that we are doing in the sector, we are also empowering our judiciary, building new magistrate courts and preparing the magistracy to deal with the issues of public transportation, violation of traffic and environmental laws and all that. I think that the success we achieve there will no doubt make life more meaningful and more rewarding for all of us”, the Governor said.

He said if law and order was enthroned successfully, in the sector, there were enormous opportunities in the sector not only for job creation but also the generation of revenue for the local governments adding that it would also help in building capacity in the sector.

Quoting the 2006 Annual Report of the British Government on the Local Governments in Britain which put the total revenue generated by them on parking alone at 2.5 billion Pounds, Governor Fashola declared: “You can imagine what could happen if we are able to raise such enormous amount in our Local Governments. It will certainly provide life more abundantly for the people at the grassroots”.

Governor Fashola said while the State Government was dealing with the challenges of the transport sector, it could not neglect the critical role of the “operation of the system” the private sector, adding “As a government, we have made it clear that we do not intend to take over the responsibilities of the Private Sector but we will engage them into partnership to do it better”.

He said the objective of the State Government in going forward with the report of the tribunal was to make the parks more efficient adding that the government was going to upgrade one of the major motor parks in the state as a major Park for interstate Carriers.

“Our intention is not to take over the park, but just that Lagos deserves more than it is getting”, the Governor said pointing out that when upgraded the park would have lodging facilities that would provide lodging for late travellers and provide income for those operating the facilities.

He thanked the tribunal members for their selfless and patriotic gesture which they demonstrated during the enquiry adding, “this is one report which we must implement the accepted recommendation as quickly as the work on the report is completed”.

Earlier in her remarks before handing over the report to the Governor, Hon. Justice Akinsanya said though the tribunal encountered some constraints, it managed to ensure that the job was done without much distractions.

The Chairman lamented that in its work at the motor parks, the tribunal discovered that the local governments had abdicated its constitutional responsibilities adding “what we have in place is Area Boys having a field day, doing clandestine stuff, marijuana, illicit gin and trade in girls”, and warned parents to endeavour to look into the activities of their children as to what they do, where they go and the company they keep.

Justice Akinsanya praised Governor Fashola for his numerous people-oriented projects aimed at uplifting the lives of the people saying this was one Governor who has set a pace for others to follow.

“I notice that your colleagues are coming to Lagos, they want to see what Governor Fashola is doing. Yes, you are the one setting the pace and they will continue to copy us. All will be well with this administration, you are on the right track”, Justice Akinsanya said.