Lagos State Government said it is waiving fines on vehicles impounded for committing minor traffic offenses, ahead of the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, March 11.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, who said Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is taking the step as a palliative measure amid ongoing cash crunch.
He added that the governor is also slashing the cost of public transport on state-owned transport services such as the BRT and LagRide.
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“When you look at what the governor proposed, especially during the cash crunch period, we have reduced public transport fare by 50%,” Oladeinded said.
“So when you go on our BRTs and all the Lagos state funded public transport, including Lag Ride, we have reduced the fare by 50% just to alleviate the suffering of our people.
“Apart from that, moving away from transport, we have opened up food banks in certain areas,” he said.
Oladeinded explained that the palliative measure covers for only minor offenses, adding that he hopes the cash crunch challenge will soon pass by – following the conclusion of the election.
“So we’re hoping that in a short time, life would return back to normal but in terms of public transport, I think we’ve reduced fare by 50%.
“There are some people that committed offences during that period and we understand the fact that money wasn’t easy to come by.
“Looking at the governor’s magnanimity, the governor has deemed it fit to ensure that people who committed crimes within that period and wanted to pay or couldn’t pay as a result of the shortage of cash, they should come and pick up their cars and he has waved the fines.
“Mind you, that does not include major crimes committed. These are just minor traffic offences that have been committed in Lagos and this is showing empathy and trying to understand that look, we understand how difficult it has been and it is not a reason for us to stop you from making ends meet and so hence the governor’s magnanimity,” he said.
While the commissioner said the waiving of fines is part of government’s initiative to cushion the effect of the cash crunch, emanating from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Naira redesign policy, Nigerians believe it has more to do with the incoming governorship election. The state government has also released N1.2 billion to clear pension backlog.
The Lagos State government was widely condemned for auctioning vehicles caught breaking traffic laws, a step the state said it had taken to compel motorists to obey the laws. However, the move has become a point of reference for the youths supporting Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party governorship candidate for Lagos State.
Sanwo-Olu is noted to have upped his engagement with Lagosians as the election draws near. But it’s all understood to be a gimmick, aimed at winning the youths who have scores to settle with the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
All these last minute acts of kindness by Sanwo-Olu to Lagosians is laughable.
So they Politicians know what to do but won’t do it.
— Mo-Mo (@Morris_Monye) March 7, 2023
The APC dominates the Lagos State government, occupying almost every political position. But the dominance, which is believed to have birthed arrogance and recklessness among public office holders, particularly the governor, has been threatened by the Labour Party’s win of the presidential election and some seats in the House of Representatives on February 25.
“Lessons have been learnt A 90% rejection rate at the polls like was witnessed on the 25th will shock any political party – Even the most bigoted and violent ones You cannot fight all the people no matter who you think you are,” a Twitter user, King Alfred, tweeted.
Sanwo-Olu, who apparently has scores to settle with many Lagosians, is thus seen to be desperately seeking to appease a cross-section of people in Lagos, particularly the youths, over his role in the October 20, 2020 EndSars protest that turned bloody after soldiers, who had came on his invitation, opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing scores.