The Road Users Development Network of Nigeria and major stakeholders in the traffic sector has urged traffic officers to return to their duty post following the ENDSARS protests that took over the nation recently.
The President, Road Users Development Network, Dr. George John while speaking in Abuja on Friday at a press conference noted that following the EndSars protests, road traffic officials have deserted there duty post due to fear of uprising and attacks by hoodlums.
According to Dr. John, the absence of these road officials has caused massive traffic gridlocks in cities such as Abuja and Lagos and increase in road crimes.
Dr. John however appeal to all affected to let bygone be bygone but form a new people in the nations history.
He also call on the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwolu to begin a confidence building process for road traffic officers in the state to restore their confidence to work.
“In Lagos State, LASTMA officials and other traffic officers should return to the roads as the current situation is now unbearable for road users”.
Similarly, he urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello to direct the management of the Abuja Urban Mass Transit Company to return to work.
Also, Dr. John urge the FCT minister to begin confidence sensitization for traffic officials in the city.
He thereby call on all traffic officers to return to the roads in the spirit of nationhood for traffic control management so as to improve the opportunity for economic recovery and commerce.
Meanwhile, the Chairman FCT Ministerial Traffic Management Team, Mr. Ikharo Attah on his own part noted that all stakeholders in the traffic management has been dutiful, but sadly the protest was hijacked by hoodlums and traffic officials were attacked and their carcass shared as heroes which is very unfortunate.
He thereby reiterated his commitment and that of his team to work, serve and ensure public safety.
Mr Attah however said without the support of the public, the work of the traffic officers would be hampered.
” The public support is very key for every traffic officer you see on the road, we want to work but we don’t want to die in the course of our duty to humanity, one thing that is cardinal to our success is to get public support”.