The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso has urged Lagos Traffic Radio to brace up in supporting and setting Agenda for the State government to curtail the menace of commercial motorcycle riders as well as an enhancement of the Traffic Management and Transportation vision of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.

Omotoso, who gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the Year 2021 Lagos Traffic Radio General Staff Retreat themed: “Rekindling the Workforce for Effective Performance in the New Normal”, hinted that the State Transportation Sector is set to experience a festival of projects, which the Station should give wide coverage to enlighten and educate Lagos Residents.

According to him, the State Government will soon take decisive steps on what will be done on the issue of Motorcycle Riders, popularly known as ‘Okada’ in the State.

His words: “The menace of Okada riders has been of great concern to the State government, especially the increasing rate of crimes being perpetrated by some of the operators, and decisive steps will soon be taken to curb their excesses”.

”Also the government is planning the procurement of seven new ferries to strengthen water transportation, so that when people have different alternatives that are safer and reliable, this menace of Okada will not only be a thing of the past, but also improve the security of Lagosians”.

The Commissioner commended the Management of Lagos Traffic Radio for putting together the Retreat and urged the Station to position itself in supporting Government policies and programmes in the transportation sector, especially towards achieving the Intermodal Transport System aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic within the metropolis.

Pointing out that Traffic Radio plays a key role in ensuring that the Traffic Management and Transportation thrust of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda is achieved, Omotoso noted that the State government has intensified efforts to deliver its intermodal transport system with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Red Line rail project recently inaugurated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

He said, “The Redline Rail Project, which Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu did the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, will be delivered in the last quarter of next year and is expected to run from Agbado to Oyingbo, a span of 37kilometres, with a target to convey one million passengers daily”.

”The funding for the project is already sorted out, so nothing can hinder the delivery of the Red Line Project. Also the Blue Line Rail Project from Marina to Mile 2 will be ready around the same time,” the Commissioner added.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, House Committee on Information Strategy and Security, Engineer Setonji David said the Lagos State House of Assembly would continue to provide enabling laws to assist the Lagos State government achieve and deliver an efficient Intermodal Transportation System.

“As you know Lagos House of Assembly is the most active State Assembly in Nigeria and we are being headed by a man who will not rest until Lagosians get the dividends of democracy. So I can assure you that more projects are coming very soon”, David declared.

In his welcome address, the General Manager of Lagos Traffic Radio, Mr. Tayo Akanle explained that the Y2021 General Staff Retreat was borne out of the need to consolidate on the Y2020 Management Retreat, which focused on exploring innovative ways of operations especially in the new normal, and to pull together major challenges faced in the day to day running of the Station, proffer lasting solutions, invent new ways for effective and efficient performance in the new normal, fostering teamwork, competence and good working relationship.

According to Mr. Akanle, within the last year, the station has expanded its areas of reporting beyond the roads to areas like Rail, Waterways and even Aviation while also increasing its online presence from 4,000 to 35,000 Likes on Facebook, and from 15,000 to 47,000 followers on Twitter, among others.

The General Manager said part of the expansion initiatives of the Station was the recent launch of its Mobile Application, another interactive platform where traffic and other related information is disseminated to Lagosians.

“Recently, the Station launched its Motorbike Live Reports initiative to provide live traffic update and travel advisory for motorists, especially during incident induced impediments on the roads, to help commuters plan their journey and reduce travel time on the roads. With the renovation of the physical outlook of the Station, Traffic Radio has been transformed into a master-class edifice befitting a world-class broadcast outfit”, Akanle asserted.

Lectures were delivered on different topics by seasoned Resource Persons including the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, who spoke on “Rekindling the Workforce for Effective Performance in the New Normal” – A Safety and Health Perspective” as well as Life Coach, Mr. Henry Shofowora, who lectured on “Building Resilience for High-Performance Teams in the New Normal” among others.