OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The leaders of the Allied Trucks Transporters Association of Nigeria, ATTAN, Lagos State Branch on Wednesday 5, March, paid a courtesy visit to Ota Divisional Command of TRACE to share perspectives on improving compliance to traffic regulations by members, reducing frictions with Men of the Agency managing traffic and the number of apprehensions of their drivers.
Cdr Ajibade Adekunle, the Area Commander, TRACE Ogun West, welcomed the Association members and appreciated their quest to collaborate with the Agency in promoting safe and seamless traffic situation on Ogun road, especially in Ota and environs, he however pointed out the need for members of the Union to ensure that the lighting systems of their vehicles are put in shape.
He started by saying, "it is very important you have your headlights, rear lights and brake lights working properly to stem the increasing number of crashes from dimly lit vehicles on the road at night, Cdr. Seni Ogunyemi, TRACE Commander General and CEO has always expressed his worries about the rate of crashes involving dimly lit trucks at night and had informed the Agency about government's plans to issue new guidelines and policies regarding this.
Cdr. Ajibade on behalf of Cdr. Ogunyemi the TRACE Commander General, gave the association a window of 2 weeks to work on all faulty electric wiring of their trucks to ensure constant lighting of their headlamps and other bulbs, stressing that the Agency is also willing to increase the number of days for the rectification excercise after which apprehensions will be effected against defaulters.
Speaking earlie, on behalf of the Union members, Comrade (Alh.) Abdul Usman, a member of the Board of Trustees of ATTAN, eulogized the Agency for the yeoman job in traffic management, resulting in accelerated traffic flow, reduction in the number of crashes and fatalities in the Ogun West Area of the State, but appealed with the Agency that while maintaining its strict traffic control standard, especially in Ota Area and environs, it should give its members a soft landing when they contravene traffic rules.
Alhaji Usman however said, "our members, especially the drivers amongst are made to undergo regular Road Safety training and all manner of advocacy programmes that promotes compliance to traffic regulations, but I'll however admit that there are few among our drivers who are culpable and sometimes found wanting on compliance matters but I want to stress here that we are seriously working on these and hereby pledge our commitment to the promotion of sanity, safety and compliance on our roads."
Comrade Babatunde Oni, the Lagos State Chairman of ATTAN, added that there is a need for stronger collaboration between his Association and the TRACE Agency, asking the TRACE Agency to understand the challenges associated with trucking business in the light of current economic realities, saying, "I would like your Agency to give considerations for any of our broken down trucks for us to effect repairs or using our discretion to quickly tow them away to our desired destinations."
Cdr. Victoria Olaoke, the Divisional Commander, TRACE, Ota Division, however added that the issue of fine payments for traffic offenses is incumbent on the contravention, stressing, oftentimes most of the offenders fail to realise that apprehensions are made in the case of multiple contraventions committed, but the offender will ignorantly think he contravene one traffic rule only for him to realise the others when officials of the Agency point them out to him.
She gave explanations about the use of Security Agencies during night operations, saying, "it is not a deliberate effort at victimising drivers on the road, rather as an Agency not allowed to bear arms, we have a level of collaboration with them for safety purpose and not to intimidate anyone."
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