By Ehichioya Steve Odion
The law establishing the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency, EDSTMA, simply mandate it to to effectively control and orderly manage traffic to ensure free flow of vehicular and human traffic in Benin City and other metropolitan towns in the state.
Regrettably, the agency has channels its energies at observing the exceptions than the rules establishing it. Stories abound of some officials of the traffic management agency dangerously bump into motorists in a bid to enforce a violation of traffic rules.
This commando styled operational strategy has led to avoidable crashes which their presence was primarily conceived to prevent. Their attitude in this regard has become worrisome prompting victims of their reckless assault and concerned citizens to call on government to reform the operational strategies to make it function better.
Today the public, especially the motorists and other road users have begun to feel the negative impact of the agency. As the activities of the agency have become counter productive owing to the several nuisances it constitutes to the sanity of our road network in the course of carrying out their "duties".
The question begging for answer right now in the public domain is whether the agency was established as a revenue generating outfit or simply to ensure free flow of traffic so that the people can move freely about their daily businesses within the city.
This question stems the general disapproval of the way and manner the officers pursue drivers around and extort money from them with impunity. Sometimes when they arrest those they may claimed as traffic offenders, they pretend to be taking them to the office but just to deceive those who where around the scene that witnessed the matter.
But immediately they leave that area, they will drive the vehicle to a corner where they will negotiate with the driver and extort money from him or her right there before freeing them. Only few vehicles get to their yards for proper documentation.
What actually prompted this write up is the cry of the Edo people that have become very loud on radio programmes in Benin City, where sundry complains and allegations of extortions have been leveled again officials of the agency.
Bitter complaints about the suffering motorists are made to suffer in the hands of these EDSTMA officials are common place during such live programme on radio.
One wonders if the management of the agency are not getting all these ugly reports or complaints from the general public. Or does it mean they chose to pay deaf ear to them because someone somewhere has to be extorted for the agency to gain revenue?
It's alleged that the obvious unyielding stance of agency officials during most autacation with 'offenders' is complicated by their quest to meet set revenue target including paying for hired tow vans used for their operations.
The last time I checked, although EDSTMA is an agency they have since regularize their officers appointments as civil servants. Therefore, one begin to wonder why should those that dressed neatly in their uniforms that are expected to carry out their duties in a most responsible way to receive public commendation, have often acted as if they are now 'agbero' or they just felt that is the best way to handle anyone on steering, forgetting that they are not only dealing with commercial drivers but more responsible private drivers and official drivers.
This alarm is to call on the management of the agency to act quickly because Edo people cannot afford to continue in this uncivilized approach to law enforcement. Proper training and re-training of personnel is strongly advised. They must be called to order and be given more orientation on how best to do their work to avoid bringing disgrace to the agency.
Investigation shows that majority of their victims are strangers from neighbouring states who drive through the Benin Metropolis. They make arrest arbitrarily without any sign of where a motorist should park or not. Do this kind of system obtainable in a civilized world?
Now the most dangerous part in the course of their job is the pursuing of those vehicles they claimed disobey traffic rules which has always turned out to be a grievous consequences. This attitude has resulted to serious accidents, and in most cases the officers involved flee the scene to avoid blame or attack by angry mob.
Why should EDSTMA Officials always be in the news for the wrong reasons. One would have preferred an agency that earns public applause for carrying out their duties diligently. There is need for them to turn a new leaf and do their work in a manner that befit the purpose the agency was established.
The officers should devote more of their time to controlling traffic, especially where such hold ups are very tight. Some of the areas that presently need their attention include Ramat pack where construction work is on going, along Sapele Road, Oba Market Road and many others. I only mentioned these few ones for emphasis. The officers know all the angles they are expected to be and at the time as well.
Henceforth, if the agency's officers want to do good job they must create parking signs and no packing signs as that is the best way to check indiscriminate parking and free the motorists from constant harassment as is currently the case now. And also know that the agency was not primarily set up to generate revenue even though traffic offenders are expected to pay fine. But that should be achieved in a more civilized manner.
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