Chief Superintendent (CSP) of Police, Area E Command, Festac, Balogun Gboyega, has reiterated his support for United Breeds Foundation (UBF) that has volunteered to manage the persistent traffic in Apple Junction.
His support of the foundation followed the assault of the founder of UBF by an official of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
“We have been facing serious challenges in Apple Junction concerning motorcycle and tricycle riders. It’s very hard managing them there.
“We have limited hands, although we have LASTMA officials, police officers, and constabulary. But I realized that sometimes they are overpowered because the motorcycle and tricycle riders are too many.”
He described Apple Junction as a traffic-sensitive area due to the multiple routes around the junction hence why more hands were required.
CSP Gboyega stated that since he came on board, it has been challenging to manage the persistent Apple Junction traffic.
“We realized the motorbikes and trucks were the major cause of traffic. The moment trucks broke down along Ago Road, we always had issues.
“When they (UBF) came, I was relieved. They are here to assist us. We have volunteers from the Federal road safety, they come out once in a while to assist us and sometimes the Army.
Gboyega spoke about the voluntary service of the UBF when he said. “I realized this was an opportunity for me to make people realize that the job that these people (LASTMA officials and Police officers) are doing is tedious, stressful, and time-consuming.
“So if I let them do this, they will probably have an experience and appreciate police and LASTMA that this work is not easy. They will feel it and express that feeling to others.
“I told LASTMA and Police officers to accord them (UBF) that privilege that they just want to assist us to manage traffic.”
In response to the case of alleged assault and how it was handled, he said, “I realized the issue between LASTMA officials and the voluntary people (UBF) is that sometimes LASTMA will stop you when you are on your right and would want to extort money from you. I felt because they couldn’t get that chance, that’s why they are bouncing on them angrily, asking them (UBF) to leave their job for them (LASTMA).
“But they (UBF) are only helping us. When you do the right thing you won’t be scared but when you do the wrong thing that’s when there’s a need to hide. But I felt relieved when they (UBF) came on board.”
