Lagos gridlock: CP deploys 6000 Supernumerary Police for traffic control

There seem to be an end in sight for the gridlock Lagosians experience especially during the weekends as the state Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, has instructed that the 6,000 man Supernumerary Police (SPY Police) be incorporated into the state traffic control management.

Edgal, who stated this while addressing the SPY Police at the Police Training School in Ikeja, over the weekend, said the Command is not only trying to fashion out better ways of making the communities safer but is also out to ensure an integrated and good traffic management across the state.

Giving further clarification for the decision, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that although the Police had her traffic officers as well as some state controlled traffic outfits like the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), the deployment of the SPY Police is hinged on the fact that Lagos state is wide and there is a great influx of vehicles and people, thus the need for more hands.

In his words, “I want to see a state where we don’t have traffic gridlock, where we don’t have issues like traffic offenses, motorcyclists riding against one way, people driving on BRT lanes, people generally disobeying traffic laws and regulations.

“As such, I know that your statutory duties will keep you busy from Monday to Friday but every weekend henceforth, we are going to fashion out how to integrate the 6,000 man strong Supernumerary Police officers in Lagos for traffic management duties all across Lagos state.

“My take on this is that I would rather use the SPY that have been trained and discipline inculcated in them by the Nigeria Police Force than to allow quasi, unknown agencies jump on our roads to begin to control traffic anyhow especially on weekends when there are lots of activities all across the state.

“I have directed senior officers to integrate the entire 6,000 man strong SPY into the Lagos state traffic management architecture and I have been informed that one thing that is worthy of note is that SPY covers the length and breadth of Lagos state, so members of the public should please take a good look at them, they are not regular police, they are Supernumerary police but were trained, tutored, disciplined, oriented by the Nigeria Police. I trust them and I know that they are willing to render services to the good people of Lagos State”.

He informed that henceforth, Lagosians would see them on the roads for traffic control duties only, especially on weekends. He therefore urged Lagosians to give them the needed support to succeed in their new duty.

He said. “It is the intention of myself and my management team to make sure that Lagosians enjoy their weekends and are not unnecessarily kept long hours on various traffic snares all across the state and I know that jointly, we shall achieve this.”

Joy Anyim