Street Sweepers’ Deaths: Lagos Assembly Invites Officials

Following the killing of two street sweepers from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) by a reckless driver reportedly trying to evade arrest from the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) officers on the ever busy Gbagada expressway, the Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned some top government officials.

The lawmakers who frowned at the alleged recklessness of some motorists operating in the state raised concerns over the activities of some officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

At a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the House invited the commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and the special adviser to the governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, to appear and give explanations concerning the incessant recklessness of drivers and the roles played by LASTMA officials.

Also invited, among others, is the general manager of LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba.

The decision of the House followed a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ raised by a member, Hon. Temitope Adewale, on the death of two officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) resulting from a road rage engaged in by two drivers.

Speaker Obasa, while noting that incidents involving recklessness of drivers and careless attitudes of LASTMA officials were on the increase, said, in addition to the invitation of the affected top officials, there was a need to revisit the laws guiding transportation in the state.

He said, “The commissioner and others can be invited so we know what to do to change the current narrative. It is good that we also look at the law to see the penalties. Maybe this would reduce such recklessness on the roads.’’

“The driver who has been arrested must be prosecuted to the latter. If the driver is not found, the owner of the vehicle should be arrested where the driver is an employee of someone so as to serve as deterrent to other motorists,” Obasa said.