The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, has vowed to prosecute commercial bus and tricycle operators caught violating traffic laws in the state.
Fayoade said this on Friday while declaring open a one-day train-the -trainers’ workshop for Area Traffic Officers.
The training was organised by the Global Transport Policy Training Academy (GTP), in collaboration with the Police Command in Lagos.
The theme of the training was: “Improving Traffic Policing: Leveraging on Emotional intelligence Skills”.
Fayoade, represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Area F Ikeja, Mr Paul Okafor, expressed concern about the lawlessness of commercial bus and tricycle operators on Lagos roads.
The CP advised road users to always obey and respect traffic officers, saying they were working for the good interest of all in Lagos state.
He commended the organisers of the training programme, pointing out that the theme was apt and showed their good thoughts towards people in Lagos State.
According to Fayoade, the training will go a long way in assisting the police in traffic management.
The Chairman/Chief Consultant, GTP, Mr Segun Musa, said the purpose of the training was to advance and reshape the traffic situation in Lagos State.
He said the theme: “Improving Traffic Policing: Leveraging on Emotional Intelligence Skills”, was pivotal to ensuring a wholesome engagement of the public.
“Beyond infrastructural deficit, we have the human element crucial to order and civility. This is where Emotional Intelligence is crucial.
“Experts have maintained that if order is not maintained in terms of traffic-related issues, by 2030, Lagos would be losing about $21 billion (about N31.5 trillion) monthly.
“Lagos needs a traffic system that is effective and efficient. As you all know, Lagos presently accommodates at least 40 per cent of the total registered vehicles in Nigeria, with an estimated population of 20 million people,” he said.
Musa said that the train-the-trainer format would enable Area Traffic Officers to train Divisional Traffic Officers for broader impact.