Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday disclosed that the operatives of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were not discharging their responsibilities effectively.
Consequently, he appointed a retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Mr. Christian Akioja Olakpe, as the new Chief Executive Officer/Chairman to provide strong leadership for the authority.
Olakpe’s appointment was contained in a statement by Ambode’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, who acknowledged that the decision was taken in response to public complaints on traffic congestion on Lagos streets.
The statement pointed out the previous decision the governor had taken to address the state’s nightmarish gridlocks, citing the appointment of Mr. Bashir Braimoh as the LASTMA General Manager.
But the statement said the decision “to appoint Olakpe as the LASTMA CEO was further said to have been necessitated owing to the fact that the impetus expected with the previous appointment was not fully actualized due to the docile nature of the headship of the authority.”
