Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode has lamented the bad traffic situation in the state.
He disclosed that the state lost N42 Billion yearly due to the traffic congestion caused by the absence of enough manpower to curb the nagging traffic situation on the road.
He spoke in Abuja at the sixth annual lecture of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre.
Ambode, who was represented by the Secretary to the state Government, Tunji Bello said the daily influx of people into the state, as well as economic activities, and the few road network was responsible for the chaotic situation.
“As we all know, Lagos has become a sprawling megacity; as with all megacities across the world, Lagos is characterized by rapidly growing urbanization and its attendant increase in population.
“Therefore, this has become a key component of the challenges posed by an ever increasing population in search of greener pastures as has been the case with Lagos.
“Lagos is the nerve-centre of Nigeria’s socio-economic and industrial activities. In any society, the challenge of rapid urbanisation and population explosion places enormous responsibility on the government and the citizens alike.
“It should, therefore, be expected that effective and efficient traffic system within the megacity would be the responsibility of everyone in the society.”
Speaking on his LASTMA experience, Ambode said his experience with traffic management in Lagos State had largely been shaped by objective conditions which necessitated efforts committed into not only bringing about the desired changes in traffic management but in also sustaining the tempo of responsive operations by LASTMA team.
