AMBODE CAN'T SOLVE LAGOS GRIDLOCK CHALLENGE -THE ECONOMIST

The  Economist, a London-based weekly magazine has criticized current government  of Lagos state led by Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as been deficient in ideas as far as the constant gridlock and robberies in the state is concerned.
The Western magazine's stand is that while the immediate government of Babtunde Fashola engineered the development and enforcement of traffic laws that kept road users in check, curbed the excesses of street boys, Ambode has instead disarmed the state's traffic law enforcement agency, LASTMA, thus leading to a situation of worsening traffic gridlocks because officials of the traffic control agency have decided to look away from the lawlessness of road users.
The report reads, “Lagos is a hub for investors in Africa – it is a bigger economy in its own right than most countries on the continent, so this is of serious concern. The state’s former governor, Babatunde Fashola, who left office after elections in March, was lauded for improving traffic and security.
" He curbed dangerous motorbike taxis and brought local ‘area boys’ (street children), under control. Cars were terrified into order by a state traffic agency, LASTMA, whose bribe-hungry officers flagged down offending drivers.
“His successor, Akinwunmi Ambode, is full of excuses, but few solutions, for the worsening gridlock. Traffic is always bad during the rains, he says. Nigerians are migrating to Lagos en masse in search of work in a worsening economy, his office adds. Yet the root of the problem is in policy: Mr. Ambode cut the powers of traffic controllers by banning them from impounding cars. In retaliation, officers have refused to enforce the rules.”
The report further states that,  " Reform in a culture riddled with corruption is never easy. Mr. Ambode’s office says the measure was intended to create a more “civil society”. Less fastidious types think it amounts to weakness, and would prefer that he focused on public transport instead.
“The biggest concern is that the gridlock is a sign of a breakdown in relations between security forces, government agencies and the new governor. If that is the case, there could be worse to come. That is bad news not only for Lagosians, but all Nigerians too.”
The report suggests that the situation may get worst if urgent measures were not put in place to solve them.

No doubt the situation keeps deteriorating each day.