August 2, 2023

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola has called for concerted efforts among all Federating States, including the Federal Capital Territory, to establish a robust regulatory framework for road traffic regulations.

The Permanent Secretary made the call while presenting a paper at the Transport Managers Conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIOTA) with the theme: “National Road Traffic Regulations: Explained”, held in Abuja at the weekend.

Toriola emphasised the need to consistently promote policies that enhance traffic regulatory uniformity and voluntary compliance with traffic rules and regulations in Nigeria. He urged CIOTA to utilise its mandate in championing the cause for this uniformity as the umbrella Transport Institution.

He further encouraged all Federating States to adopt a uniform documentation process and traffic regulation guidelines, saying “Doing so would ensure unified traffic education, compliance without double taxation and unwarranted traffic violations”.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted the efforts of the Lagos State Government in enacting laws, operational guidelines and interventions to shape traffic management and road safety in the State, in accordance with the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution. He cited the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018, from which the State draws its regulatory powers.

Toriola also mentioned some of the instruments deployed by the State Government to regulate its transportation sector, including the Non-Motorized Transport Policy, Lagos State Transport Policy, Transport Union White Paper, Lagos State e-Hailing Taxi Business Regulation, Operational Guideline on the Ban of Motorcycle Operations in 10 LGAs, 15 LCDAs, Highways, and Bridges in the State, Tow Trucks Operational Guidelines, Lagos State Courier and Dispatch Regulation, and Operational Guideline for Vehicle Registration and Commercial Operations, among others.

He acknowledged that traffic violations have adverse effects on the global environment and socio-economic growth, advocating for the enactment of a uniform Traffic Law, strictly enforced with a strong political will to ensure sanity and safety on the roads.