SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE! simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961
My office is located somewhere in the Alausa axis of Ikeja, Lagos state, so I find myself driving around the state’s seat of power regularly in search of my daily 2k. One day on Nurudeen Olowopopo Way, the traffic lights stopped us. The car in front of me ended up on a zebra crossing. Two men dressed in grey uniform appeared from nowhere and started talking to the driver. Before you could say Jack, one of them had opened the door and jumped into the car. As the traffic lights released us, they led the driver and the car away. I shook my head and muttered: “Another collection of uniformed officers.” I later learnt they were members of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).
I started thinking: how many uniformed officers does an average Lagos motorist encounter every day? We have the regular police with checkpoints everywhere. We also have unusual police officers in mufti and balaclavas. Sometimes, the way they dress makes you wonder if they are robbers. We come across officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). They, at times, waylay motorists at street corners. We also have officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). I used to see VIO officers too. Not sure I have seen them recently. We also have military officers on joint patrols at strategic places. All these come at a cost to motorists, especially commercial drivers.
