MR Babatunde Tonode, a traffic officer with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), was over the weekend presented a Diamond Service Award with a cheque of N75,000 for exceptional service to the motoring public in Lagos.
According to media reports, the award ceremony, put together by Unifeed Project Initiative (UPI) in conjunction with Access Bank Plc, was to appreciate workers, particularly uniformed personnel.
The Lead Sponsor of Unifeed Project Initiative, Mojibade Sosanya, said the vision for the initiative was born out of the passion of LASTMA Officers and other uniformed personnel she saw in April 2021, on a very sunny day managing and controlling traffic across Lagos despite the scorching sun.
She stated further that LASTMA officials had also rescued her when her vehicle broke down at night in a place where she could have easily been robbed.
According to her, "LASTMA Officers were like angels sent to help me when I could have got robbed when my car broke down at night.
"They assisted me to push my car to a distant place beyond the danger zone. This led to the thought of appreciating uniformed men for their dedication and commitments."
The General Manager of LASTMA, who was represented at the event by Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, and Mr Mabifa Oluwatosin (LASTMA Zonal Head), disclosed that despite the risk associated with controlling/managing traffic, this would be the second time in a few weeks that officers of the Agency would be recognised, appreciated, and rewarded for their dedication to duty.
While acknowledging the award as well-deserved, the General Manager disclosed that the newly distributed 500 Traffic Management Solution (TMS) handheld devices to LASTMA personnel by the Lagos State Government would reduce physical contact with traffic violators.
He further disclosed that the TMS handheld cameras would ensure transparency by capturing real-time video/photographs of violations as evidence to be presented before the court.
