•Why we rebranded outfit – Gov Obaseki

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

THE rebranded Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA) came alive last Wednesday after the agency was commissioned by His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin. It would be recalled that the agency, popularly known as Oshiomhole police, was initiated by the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole but disbanded towards the end of that regime due to allegations of harassment and bribery levelled against its officials.

*From left: Oba Ewuare II of Benin Kingdom, Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki; and the EDSTMA-MD, Mr. Dennis Ade during the commissioing of the agency.

Meanwhile, as part of its plans to restore sanity in the state transportation system, Governor Godwin Obaseki revamped the agency which was commissioned by the Benin monarch. As it seems, the Edo State government tried to copy the Lagos model of LASTMA (Lagos State Transport Management Authority) and, like LASTMA, EDSTMA is equipped with modern communication gadgets, patrol vans and power bikes with their colourful uniforms.

Commissioning the agency and its equipment, Oba Ewuare 11 noted that Benin-City had always had a well-designed layout of roads, feeder roads, streets and lanes since pre-colonial times, adding that, over the years, the increase in vehicular movement, coupled with bad roads and poor traffic management, had resulted in chaotic traffic situations, made worse by motorists with a penchant for disregarding traffic rules. “The officials of EDSTMA must not see their appointments as an avenue for enriching themselves by accepting bribes from motorists who may want to undermine traffic rules. I am glad that the government deemed it appropriate to create a Public Complaints Department for the agency, where members of the public can lodge their complaints. It is hoped that such complaints will be addressed speedily”, he said.

“With the commissioning of this agency, traffic situation in Benin-City in particular and Edo State in general is expected to be well managed. I appeal to the newly employed officials to be committed to their jobs and so their utmost best to ensure that road users are not subjected to harassment and intimidation. The agency officials must not see their appointments as an avenue for enriching themselves by accepting bribes from motorist who may wish to undermine the traffic rules. I appeal to the officials to ensure that they operate within the confines of the law to avoid denting the image of the agency in particular and that of Edo state government in general. I thank the Governor for these men and women that have just been employed, knowing too that they are all from Edo State”.

While thanking the state government for inviting him to commission the rebranded EDSTMA, the Oba of Benin said, “Above all I thank Mr Governor for this laudable initiative”.

The Managing Director of EDTSMA, Oloriegbe Dennis Ade, in his speech at the occasion, said the agency would adopt unique and advance strategies to overcome the challenges that it may face.

“Edo State is a connecting state to both the North and the East. We shall adopt unique and advanced strategies to overcome our social limitation. We shall use three-phase traffic management strategy, education, engineering and enforcement, to tackle the traffic problem in Edo State. We have motor bikes with over 20 cubic centimetres in response to the growing traffic problems on our roads. Our response is to ensure that our roads are free of impediments. We shall make sure that all motorists obey traffic rules and regulations. Therefore public enlightenment of road users starts with immediate effect”, Ade stated.

“The commissioning of EDSTMA is another links in the chains of development in Edo State. And we are prepared, determined, and we will remain focus in getting Edo State traffic going with pride.

“The EDSTMA recruitment exercise commenced on May 16, 2017, with the screening of 864 candidates. 561 out of 864 sat for an aptitude test. At the end of the day, 382 were short listed in the EDSTMA training programme based on the cut off mark of 40 per cent. 250 scored above 50 per cent and 122 scored less than 50 per cent. The training was intensive and, at the end of it all, 351 were able to conclude the programme and sat for the final test of which 224 were males while 127 females”.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Obaseki expressed his delight at the presence of the Oba of Benin, which he described as an official royal visit and an honour to his administration.

According to him, the rebranding of EDSTMA became necessary considering the fact that the state serves as a transportation hub with heavy vehicular traffic.

“This re-branded EDSTMA is made up of trained men and women who are more civil, operate within the ambit of the law and citizens are to relate with them as such. There is a Public Complaints Unit that will attend to all the complaints from road users and I can assure you that our people will not be exploited or harassed by members of this agency”, Obaseki said.

He commended Oshiomhole, who had the foresight to create EDSTMA to manage vehicular traffic in the state.