One of the wonderful achievements recorded by the ebullient and hardworking Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Ahmed Bola Tinubu was the setting up of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). I have been wondering what Lagos traffic would have been without the services of these very important traffic managers. On several occasions, these men have impressed me a lot in the metropolis with their very satisfactory conduct and performances. LASTMA is simply doing a good job and the man who set it up has ideas and foresight. But my encounter with LASTMA, Olowu Unit in Lagos Island on March 22, 2003 nearly put me off.

I do not enjoy going to the Lagos Island on a working day more especially when I have something to do around Broad Street. The hustle and bustle and the traffic situation in the Island raise my blood pressure to an unwanted level. I therefore prefer to go to Broad Street and its environs on Saturdays to do few things. On this fateful Saturday I had gone to Broad Street to pick a frame for my eye glasses. The time was about 3.00 p.m. and the ever busy Broad Street was relatively free like most weekends. I neatly parked by the side of the road and went into the backyard to fix up the frame. Where I parked was safe enough putting into consideration every other thing that needs to be considered. I did not block anybody and neither did I obstruct the traffic. There were not too many vehicles using the Broad Street on that fateful day and it is usually like that on weekends.

By the time I returned after an hour, my car was gone. I made enquiries and discovered that it was towed away by LASTMA officials at Olowu in the Island. On a Saturday? Do they work on Saturday? Since the Broad Street is virtually empty on weekends do they still need to tow cars away? These were the questions I asked people around there, as I made straight to their office in Olowu.

On getting there I was told that I will pay N2,500 for towing the vehicle to their office, and N2,000 fine for parking on a main carriage way, bringing the total to N4,500. I asked them whether they work on Saturdays they said yes. I asked them whether the money is official, they said yes. I had no money left with me. I tried to beg them but all to no avail. I put a call to my office in Western Avenue and made arrangement for cash and in less than 30 minutes my boy was there. But another problem came up. They said I had to go to a bank at Ikeja to pay the money and because the bank does not work on Saturday, I would have to come on Monday. I was also reminded that I have to pay N500 each day for demurrage.

I was stunned! And I said, wait a minute, are you people suggesting that I have to leave this car here and come on Monday, even when I have the money to pay? Do you know what it will cost me to leave this car here till Monday? Do you know that I have to drive my family to Church tomorrow? Do you know that I have to go to Badagry tomorrow to see my children in school? If you know that there is no arrangement to collect money from would-be defaulters on a Saturday why go out at all to tow vehicles? Now, can you give me a concession on personal recognition so that I can go home with the car while leaving the money with you till Monday? They were not prepared for this option. I asked them also whether they realised the pains and stress they would put me into this weekend if the car is detained till Monday? They had no answer to these pertinent questions and I was completely helpless.

The questions I raised and the way I was talking unsettled their nerves and even those who wanted me to settle them shut up completely. They must have been thinking that I could cause trouble for them. One of them who wanted to help me to pay the money on Monday declined to assist any more. The problem was compounded when the young man who brought the money to me asked if they work on Saturdays. His question made them angry. One man whom I understand is their boss was the first to leave for home. A few others followed suit. I was totally dejected, and disappointed. I had to go home on a public transport.

On Monday I sent the same young man to them at Olowu in Lagos Island. On getting to Olowu he paid the N2,500 for the towing van and N1,000 for the 2-day demurrage. He was now asked to go to Guaranty Trust Bank, Allen Avenue to pay the fine. They did not tell him that he had to take the Card given to him at the bank to Alausa. The boy returned to Olowu only to be told to take the card to Alausa. The journey he started at 10 a.m. ended at about 4.00 p.m. My tyres were deflated at Olowu and he had to pay N100 to a stand-by vulcaniser, to pump the tyres.

Now, I have two questions for the Commissioner of Transport, Lagos State, Mr. Muiz Banire: Do LASTMA tow well-packed cars on Saturdays in Broad Street Lagos Island? If the answer is yes, please tell me the arrangement you made for defaulters to pay the fine so that these people would not be denied the rights to use their cars on weekends. If the honourable commissioner whom I know very well cannot address these questions satisfactorily, let it be known that an injustice has been done to me. I was put under stress by somebody who did not do his job properly. Apart from the troubles I went through, LASTMA still collected N5,500 on Monday March 24, 2003. This is simply too much for me.

Igbokwe lives in Lagos