Lagos insists LASTMA will continue to arrest traffic offenders

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will continue to discharge its duty of ensuring the free flow of traffic and enforcing the laws against violators of road traffic regulations.

The motoring public is, therefore, advised to ignore the “fake news” trending on some social media platforms that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has warned LASTMA officials not to arrest any motorist, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, declared in a statement on Friday.

The statement purported to have emanated from Sanwo-Olu reads: “Henceforth, no LASTMA Official should arrest any motorist, either commercial or private. The duty of LASTMA is to manage traffic and not to arrest anyone. I have heard a lot of complaints, any official that violates the rule will be severely dealt with.”

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However, Omotoso clarified: “This fake news which has been debunked severally before it resurfaced on social media platforms, was ostensibly designed to pitch the public, especially motorists, against officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the State Government is not contemplating the withdrawal of the power to enforce traffic law against erring motorists, as it believed that public education and enlightenment should be complemented by the enforcement of rules and regulations to ensure sanity on our roads.”