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KWARTMA to extend operations to Omu Aran, Offa, Bode-Saadu

 

By Matthew Denis

The Kwara State Road Traffic Maintenance Agency (KWARTMA) has concluded plans to extend its operations to three more communities in the state.
The communities are; Omu Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun local government, Offa in Offa local government and Bode Saadu, the headquarters of Moro local government.
The Chief Executive Officer of KWARTMA, Alhaji Yekeen Babatunde made the disclosure on Saturday during his first address to officers of the agency after his confirmation for a second term in office.
He said, “I am proposing three different policies to strengthen traffic operations within the state. The first thing is we are making arrangement in segmenting the agency into eight zones.
“We have examined the peculiarity of Kwara State and observed that there are some areas that are pro- traffic congestion. So we are starting with those three areas; Omu-Aran, Offa and Bode Saadu because of the Jebba axis in Moro Local Government Area.”
Babatunde stressed that the execution of those plans will commence soon and officers will be transferred to decongest such areas.
The KWARTMA boss explained that the agency is equally trying to introduce ‘Traffic Mayors’ to assist in monitoring, reporting and arresting traffic rules violators in the state.
He said, “We want to introduce traffic mayors because it will be difficult to recruit due to the economic recession. So we are coming up with the mayors to include stakeholders in the media, executives of transport unions and top civil servants that are above assistant directors to constitute the membership.
“The mayors will be empowered to arrest, fine and inform us duly on cases of traffic offenders and we are going to give them special reflective jackets.”
He added that the agency will go round schools to enlighten pupils on the importance of observing traffic signs, rules and regulations.
“We will have a department that will be visiting schools to educate them on traffic signs and rules and to introduce traffic club for Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools.”
On allegation that his officers consistently focus more on commercial vehicles, Babatunde said, “Most private vehicle owners have their licenses and observe the rules but if you look at the okada riders because most of them are not riding their own motorcycles, they normally don’t have helmets, licences and they also drive roughly.”

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