RTEAN Seeks Mutual Collaboration With LASTMA, LASU Transport School For Better Delivery

The task force team of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Lagos State branch under the able leadership of *Oba (Dr.) Sulaimon Adeshina Raji (JAFO-AUTHORITY)* has called for more collaboration with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Lagos State University School of Transport and Logistics in a renewed effort to boost its effectiveness and enhance its service delivery. 

The task force team led by its chairman, *Samuel Olalere Owoseni* made the courtesy call to the LASTMA head office on Wednesday.

Discussing with the leadership of the traffic agency, Owoseni said the RTEAN management set up the task force team to enforce discipline and promote orderliness within the parks and garages. 

“We have come to you seeking collaboration as the major transport management agency in Lagos and to inform you of our operations so far,” Owoseni said. 

“The task force team was inaugurated some two months ago and we have been working round the clock to ensure decorum in parks,” he maintained. 

He argued that though RTEAN members belong to  the informal sector, its members are not “agbero” but tax collectors who collect rates on behalf of the government. 

The former LASU Students’ Union president noted that some of his plans as the team lead are to rebrand and “readjust RTEAN’s activities to meet the current trends” while building an enviable image for the association. 

In his remarks, the General Manager of LASTMA, Bakare-Oki Olalekan, represented by Steven Oshinowo, the director, Admin and Human Resources said the visit was a well thought out one, stressing that the RTEAN enforcement team can work with the agency by controlling the commercial drivers to park properly to avoid traffic.

“Decongestion of traffic inflows should be part of the aim of the Taskforce,” Oshinowo said.

Also, speaking at the familiarization visit, Akinpelu Ayuba, the director of Training of the agency stated that the task force team needs to effect decorum in parks through training of its members. 

In another visit to the School of Transport and Logistics, Lagos  State University, on the same day, Owoseni said the task force team realises there is a need to acquire new knowledge and ideas from the experts, hence the reason for the call.

“The problems of enforcement and instilling discipline among members seems practically impossible and that’s why we are here seeking help from you who are academic experts on the field,” he said.

He maintained that the RTEAN task force needs some skill sets to effectively perform its duties, stressing that the work of enforcement requires knowledge. 

Reacting to his address, Charles Asenime, a professor and dean of School of Transport and Logistics said the RTEAN members are in the right place seeking help as providing such services is part of the core mandate of its establishment.

“We have been expecting this visitation for a long time now and we’re happy it’s happening. Here, we help develop the necessary skills you need to better your operations while taking you through what you need to know from the very basics,” he stated. 

The transport professor said the university offers short and long term courses for willing members, adding that the courses are designed to suit the working conditions of the individuals concerned. 

Also speaking at the interactive session is the grand dean of the School, professor Odewunmi Samuel Gbadebo. He noted that transport management is a concern for everyone as a poor transport system has ripple effects on individuals’ activities. 

The management of the school said it offers training, research and advisory services which would be instrumental to the effectiveness of the task force team.