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How Far can a Traffic Radio Station go in Managing Traffic Gridlock in Lagos State?
Yesterday in Lagos state, Governor Babatunde Fashola launched the first ever traffic radio station in Nigeria, Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1. According to the Governor, it was in a bid to find ways to ease the ever busy traffic in the state.
The governor said that the Lagos Traffic Radio was another of his administration’s innovations to manage the traffic in the mega-city, and that it would enable residents plan their day and reduce travel time to and from work or business.
“The Lagos Traffic Radio will help you make informed choices as to the route to follow when you set out to work or business in the morning. The radio will give you first hand information on the traffic situation so that you can manage your time well and save cost.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said the Lagos Traffic Radio was part of the several innovative responses of the present administration to the perennial traffic challenges in the State adding that it was aimed at making the State an investors delight.
According to the Commissioner, in order to make every investor get his money’s worth in the State, “the traffic situation must be well managed in a more scientific manner, hence the need for a traffic radio station.”
“The station”, the Commissioner said, “is prepared for the challenges of meeting the expectations of the 21st Century listening audience in terms of content and facilities”, adding that the feedback since it commenced test transmission on 96.1 MHZ three weeks ago was very satisfactory.
Noting that the station would form an invaluable avenue for the education of Lagosians on best traffic and road use practices, Ibirogba said the expectation of Government was that “as the station commences full operation, there will be drastic reduction in traffic gridlocks on our roads as motorists would be well informed on traffic situations and thus plan their journeys more scientifically.”
Lagos is a state notorious for its traffic gridlocks which often last for hours in many parts of the state. The Traffic radio station is a laudable initiative, however, how far can it go to reduce the traffic gridlock on the roads?
To achieve this aim, the radio station must be well structured and give minute by minute updates on the traffic situation from ALL parts of the state. For instance, if I want to take off from Ikeja to Victoria Island and at that time, the station is giving traffic reports of Surulere and Apapa, how do I get to know the situation on the Third Mainland Bridge?
Maybe the state government should be thinking in the direction of an online or mobile application for traffic updates in the state.
Those are my thoughts. How about yours?
What do you think about the new Traffic Radio Station? Do you think it would help reduce traffic in Lagos state? What suggestions do you have to reduce the traffic gridlock often experienced in the state?
Please share your thoughts.
News Source: Channels TV
