A Lagos event planner identified as Qoodus Gbagba, has accused men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, of working with hoodlums to impound vehicles on Lagos roads.
The 38-year-old stated that his car developed faulty and started overheating around Anthony Bus-Stop, Maryland, on August 4, when he pulled over to allow it to cool down.
He disclosed that some louts asked him to pay N10,000 to help him push the car off the expressway to the service lane but he told them he had only N2,000, adding that the group threatened that LASTMA officials would tow away his car and shortly afterwards, some officials of the agency showed up and took his vehicle away.
Gbagba in his words said, “The temperature of my car had risen and I had to stop around Anthony Bus-Stop inward Maryland.
“I had to push the car to exit the expressway linking the service lane through a BRT corridor. I was trying to look for help. Suddenly, two area boys arrived and told me that I should bring N10,000 for them to assist me to push the vehicle. I told them I did not have up to that, but I would give them N2,000 and they should assist me”, he said.
He added that, “The area boys said if I did not give them the N10,000 that LASTMA officers were already coming with a towing vehicle, that I should cooperate quickly and in less than five minutes, a towing vehicle arrived with two LASTMA officers, saying that I was on a BRT lane and appealed to them that I tried to push my car from the expressway to the service lane but they refused to listen. I believe that LASTMA officials are working with the area boys.”
The motorist further said that his vehicle was taken to the agency’s yard, adding that he had been fined N40,000.
According to the LASTMA General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, the agency only impounds vehicles that violate the state traffic laws.
“If we allow things which should not be allowed, how will Lagos roads be? It’s fair that we should uphold the law. If he has a case against us, he should come out and tell the world because we are fair in our dealings with the public,” he added.
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