By Olusegun Olanrewaju
The Hawkins and Blizzard decks of the National Association of Seadogs have partnered with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on a campaign against driving on one way.
The campaign, which was part of activities to mark the 2024 World Day of Social Justice, saw the organisations unveiling signage against one-way driving in strategic positions along the Akowonjo Road in the Egbeda axis of Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.
The organisation also distributed free reflective jackets bearing the campaign message to the LASTMA Akowonjo Zonal Commander, Zebra Akinde Olusola, to sustain the message for a while.
An extensive enlightenment campaign was carried out at the popular Egbeda Bus Stop with flyers distributed to commercial bus drivers.
Speaking during the exercise tagged, “Campaign against one-way driving, the Cap’n of Hawkins Deck, Mr Jude Alaneme, said driving against traffic had caused several unwarranted accidents which led to the loss of lives.
He said considering the crowded nature of Lagos, it had become imperative to take the campaign to transporters, especially commercial bus drivers who have often violated traffic rules, to reduce the menace caused by arrogance.
Alaneme said, “By sensitisation campaign on the consequences of one-way driving, we will be able to create the needed awareness to save potential victims, and by erecting signage where they are required, we can compliment the effort of government and as well save potential victims from consequences of one-way driving.
“Initially, we considered an advocacy for violators of one-way driving especially in cases where there are no road signs but through our engagement, we observe that the traffic authority has a diligent multi-layered process in place to ensure that the violators are not just wrongly accused but are glaring cases of one-way driving and in most cases the violators already made victims off other responsible road users through their acts.
“Similarly, we considered that such advocacy will only affect a few compared to the many that our intervention will impact. We will be saving a lot more persons from being victims and enabling fair relationship between the people and the government by our intervention in sensitisation and complimenting government efforts than advocating for the release of established violators.”
In his comment, the LASTMA Zonal Coordinator, Olusola, who decried driving against one-way, simply said, “One-way driving leads to death, so, it should be discouraged.”
