FRSC partners Lagos govt on new traffic law 'As PDP faults passage, says it's unacceptable

THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Tuesday, expressed its readiness to partner with the Lagos State government on the implementation of new traffic law and actualisation of Dakar Declaration, as well as the United Nations (UN) Decade of Action on Road Safety, towards the reduction of road traffic accidents by 50 per cent in 2015.Speaking during a visit to the state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the FRSC sector commander, Nseobong Akpabio, expressed dismay over increasing rate of accident recorded on the nation's highway, submitting that the corps would not only partner with the state government on the new traffic law, but would also work with it to implement the law 100 per cent.He called on the government to expedite action on the construction of additional stations where drivers would be made to undergo test, adding that 'the era of people sitting at home to get driver's licence is gone. Once Lagos State gets it right, other states will follow suit.'Earlier, Governor Fashola had stated that the new traffic law aimed to achieve compliance by Lagosians rather than arresting and sending anybody to jail.He said the law was about the safety and benefit of the people of the state, adding that a jail sentence would be the extreme.The governor restated the preparedness of the state to work with the FRSC within the provision of the law that defines the relationship, adding that 'it is not acceptable by law for the FRSC to come within the territory of any state and manage traffic. That is the law of this country and not my opinion.'Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, faulted the new Lagos traffic law, especially the decision to hide the provisions from the public, making it difficult for analysis.Describing the position of the government on the law as unacceptable, the state chapter of the party, in a statement made available by its spokesperson, Taofik Gani, called on the government to make available the copy of the provision.'Yes, we have heard about a traffic law, but nobody can claim a copy of the whole provisions. Even reporters are relying only on the presentations made during the signing of the law. Now, there is controversy on the commencement date. While the commissioner for transportation says later, the Attorney-General says immediately,' the statement read.The party said going by reports, fines to be imposed on offenders were exorbitant and was meant to raise the revenue target of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).'We are unequivocal in our belief that the state government is driven by desperation to increase its revenues. Lagosians should expect more of similar laws, because the new Attorney General was actually the special adviser on tax during Fashola's first term,' the statement added.
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