Managing Lagos Traffic

Traffic signs

Ugo Aliogo writes that Traffic Warehouse, a specialist company on traffic symbols and signages, has opted to help with road traffic management through its pet project 'Traffic School'

Without doubt, the incessant traffic situation in Lagos State has become a thorny issue of serious consequence. But more worrisome is the little or no awareness of road traffic management and flagrant disregard for it. 

In many developed societies today, the issue of road traffic management is handled with great seriousness and as a result, there are stiff sanctions and penalty melted out to traffic offenders. Not in Nigeria.

Over here, the case is quite different as motorists and pedestrians alike hardly comply with traffic laws. Again, the enforcement is usually lenient or non existent in most cases. This unwholesome trend has proved quite worrisome to stakeholders in the industry.

Therefore as part of efforts to improve the traffic situations in Nigeria especially in Lagos State and ensure that Lagosians comply with traffic rules and regulations, Traffic Warehouse, a specialist in the sales of traffic materials has expressed its desire to make the state a reference point to other states in the area of traffic management with its pet project ‘traffic school’.

The programme, which they noted would be aired on television and radio to educate the public about road safety rules, traffic code and traffic management, is geared to change the perception of road users.

Recently, the company organised a conference to enlighten the public about the initiative, where the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Princewill Amuchie, explained that the bad traffic situation in the state has become an issue of serious concern, therefore the company decided to embark on this pet project to contribute it quota to tackle the traffic situation.

Their effort he said would complement the efforts of Lagos state Traffic Maintenance Agency (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Vehicle Inspecting Officer (VIO).

Amuchi who expressed confidence that the programme which kicked off on August 11, 2015, on radio, (Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1 fm, every Tuesday, from 4-15-5pm) would become a strong platform where the public would be properly educated about traffic rules, road signs and safety measures to adopt in the usage of the road.

While assuring the public that the programme would also create a platform for drivers (private and commercial drivers) to improve their driving skills and individuals willing to learn the rudiments of driving would gain from the programme.

He said, “Most of the accidents on our roads today are caused by poor driving. If everybody is aware of road signs and obey them, road auto crashes will reduce. It is not only roads, we are also focusing on the airport and seaports too, so that the public will be properly informed about the traffic situation.

“This initiative came as a result of the desire of traffic warehouse to go beyond the sales of traffic devices to improving traffic situation in the state. We are also in the business of road marking, and airport marking. At traffic warehouse, we have established a name as a leading brand in all contemporary safety solutions in Nigeria today.

“We are a one-stop shop for traffic safety solutions, traffic safety devices and personal equipment such as speed bumps, road stud, traffic cones, speed limit devices, reflective vests and road furniture. Therefore it is vital we give back to the society through this pet project.

"While Convitech, the parent company is the engineering aspect of traffic warehouse which carries out the engineering oriented functions, road and airport marking.”

Amuchie disclosed that when Convitech began business in 2011, they discovered through their clients that the materials used for service delivery were of low standards, therefore did not meet the needs of clients.

Consequently, there was a need to step up the standard of the materials used by building traffic warehouse which was aimed at bridging the gap, “Today traffic warehouse buys quality traffic materials from China, United States of America and Germany in order to meet the growing needs of the Nigeria industry",  Amuchie said.

He noted that when the company realised that importing these materials were sufficient enough to meet the growing needs of the market, they decided to create a platform to teach the public about traffic safety and road signs through traffic school, stressing that the programme has been packaged for radio and television, with the television edition starting in September, it is fully packaged with a presentation of the highway, the airport and sea port codes and in each week, there would be a resource person to speak on specific challenge.

He added, "For the television programme, viewers will have to send their challenges and opinions to our website, (www.trafficwarehouse.com.ng) and twitter handle. While for radio, it will involve a call in programme where listeners will call in to air their views and opinions.

“In the programme, there will be a segment known as traffic club, it will address the bad habits in the usage of road such as someone crossing the road when there is a pedestrian bridge, somebody crossing the road and using ear muffs, someone crossing the road and making calls at the same time, wrong overtaking and a host of other bad ills will discussed.

"If a street has a bad road or spot, our crew will go there and capture the road, show it on the television programme for government to know about it."

Amuchie expressed the company’s desire to become an advocate and a leader in the road traffic management and maintenance in state, stating that the aim of the company is to take this initiative beyond Lagos, to Abuja, Port-Harcourt, and the South-east region of the country.

He said, "We aim to better this country especially in the area of road usage. We have the backing of LASTMA, FRSC, and Traffic Radio. We are making arrangements to get one of the televisions station to partner with us and we are calling on other lovers of safety to join the campaign to solve these traffic challenges.”