PRESS STATEMENT ON VIOLATION OF TRAFFIC REGULATIONS BY SOME VEHICLE OWNERS WHO PARKED INDISCRIMINATELY ON THE WALKWAY AT THE FRONTAGE OF PORTER'S PORCH, UNITY ROAD, ILORIN

The attention of the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) has been drawn to allegations of assault, instigation of violence, religious crisis, and intimidation by some unidentified members of Porter's porch worship centre along Unity Road, Ilorin, on 12th May, 2024.

Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority is established with the mandate to manage traffic in the state. Its cardinal responsibility extends to enforcement of traffic laws and other connected matters, ranging from encroachment, flagrant parking, rescue operations, and discouragement of alms begging on the road, all in the bids to enhance safety of lives and properties of the citizenry.

It should be noted that all the vehicles that were clamped by KWARTMA officers were indiscriminately parked on the kerbs (walkways), which are meant for pedestrian usage. 

As professional traffic managers, all the vehicles carefully parked behind the yellow tick lines were not clamped. 

Our enforcement officers who visited the spots and requested the car owners to repark their vehicles were manhandled and attacked as some of the worshipers claimed that they had come for a Sunday service and those vehicles cannot be reparked.

The inciting video was an unfortunate manipulation of religion to mask a flagrant disrespect for the law and the tendency to cause inconveniences for fellow citizens. 

KWARTMA has consistently enlightened all members of the society about traffic rules. Good citizens should respect the law and promote collective safety; rather than break it and then whip up sentiments along religious lines to perpetrate impunity.

It is pertinent to inform members of the public that walkways are specifically meant for pedestrians, and KWARTMA expects organisations, corporate bodies, and individuals to respect the law.

It is important to also note that our enforcement is devoid of religious sentiments. KWARTMA is in harmonious relationship with all religious bodies in the state, both Christians and the Muslims, who are equal stakeholders in traffic management.

Against this backdrop, the Authority urges members of the public to obey traffic laws and disregard the mischievous outcry aimed at whipping up sentiments, which are meant to perpetrate impunity.

We thank the leadership of the affected Church for wading into the matter and apologising for the unfair and illegal manhandling of our officials who were simply discharging their duties to the people of the state. 

Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) will continue to promote safety and efficient traffic management in the State and beyond. 

Road safety and traffic management is a collective responsibility of all, as KWARTMA enjoins all road users to make the walkway free from parking and market activities.

Engr. Micheal Gboyega Bamidele

Ag.CEO

Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority

12/5/2024