14 Traffic Officials To Face Disciplinary Committee For Allegedly Extorting Money From Motorists

Fourteen male officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be facing a disciplinary panel for allegedly extorting money from motorists at different locations across the state.

As per the agency's Public Relations Officer, Adebayo Taofiq, 11 officials belonged to the senior cadre, while three were juniors.

Taofiq addressed the media on Sunday, revealing that the agency's General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, had already investigated these 14 officers, following which they will be facing the disciplinary panel.

"The 14 male officers (11 seniors and three juniors) were caught at different locations across the state extorting money (bribes) from motorists," Taofiq said, Punch reported. "He said the agency would continue to mete out stiff and severe punishment on officers and men in its efforts to weed the agency of a few bad elements tarnishing its image."

"We thereby call on residents, especially the motoring public, to support us by promptly reporting any errant officers at the nearest LASTMA offices or use any of the agency's complaints hotlines with proof of evidence."

Residents can promptly report such incidents on these hotlines-08100565860, 08129928503, 08129928515, and 08129928597.

This is not the first time officials in Nigeria have come under fire for bribes. Previously, former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika accused House of Representatives Committee of Aviation Chairman, Nnolim Nnaji of asking for a 5% stake in the controversial airline Nigeria Air.

In a televised interview, the former aviation minister had said, "[Nnaji] asked me to please indulge him and give him 5% of the airline and carry him along and his people. What I told him in private is that it belonged to the owners and I believe they will still be willing to give him if he had the money."

According to a report issued by UNODC, there are only 5.7% of private sector people involved in taking bribes. Whereas, 30% of the officials in the public sector took bribes.

The report also disclosed that the maximum bribe across Nigeria is received by police officers, while the minimum bribe is taken by health workers.