The members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ikeja Branch on Tuesday took over the traffic management and control at the Agege Pen-Cinema area. The Engineers, directed and controlled traffic movement while also sensitising the road users on the effective traffic management.
Supported by officers of LASTMA and other volunteers; this was a part of the activities marking the Branch's 2017 Annual Engineering Week and part of the Branch's social responsibility.
The Vice Chairperson, Nigerian Society of Engineer, Engr Mrs. Funmi Akingbagbohun who represented the Chairman Engr Akintola at the event spoke to MyEngineers correspondent and noted that the engineers are the bedrock for development in any nation and must contribute into the environment as part of Social Responsibility.
According to her, the branch's leadership: " decided to look at inward and look at our environment. What are the thing that we can help to ease the problems and challenges of people in our environment. And one of the things we have identified since we moved (our secretariat) here (Agege Pen Cinema) is the perennial traffic congestion and it attendant hardship imposed on the road users." The Said.
She praised the officers of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA who spend days and nights in the grueling Lagos traffic to maintain order and ensure free flowing of traffic. She noted that many of them are qualified engineers who are socially and professionally responsible. She urged the members of public to cooperate with the officers in order to ensure effective traffic management. She commended the officers and urge general public to appreciate their sacrifices.
Engr Akingbagbohun said that with the Engineering secretariat located within the area, the Branch will not continue to watch the compounded gridlock without offering solutions in its best possible way.
The Branch according to her, would collaborate with government in a bid to bring succor to the area. Noting that the state has tackled similar problems in Iyana Oworo, Abule Egba, and Ojodu Berger. and expressed optimism that the Branch can work with the state government to design a solution to perennial traffic congestion at Agege Pen Cinema area. She pointed out that the volume of the numbers of vehicles plying the area has increased due to the interconnection of the road to other parts of the state which included Ojodu Berger, Iju, Abule Egba, Oshodi and Ikeja. All of which are of economic importance to the state.
On her part., Engr Mrs Margaret Oguntala, a three time Vice President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE and former Chairperson of the Chapter gave the engineers a pass mark for the exercise. She however said that Engineers and government need to work even closer in proffering permanent solutions to the challenge facing the community.
According to her "The situation of traffic in any state or in any community depends on how well it is controlled, and my advice is that the government takes it seriously.
"Engineers are of course always in the central of this kind of thing. We can design ways for the government to really tackle traffic problem in Nigeria."
She added that engineers' involvement in traffic management goes beyond human resources and extended to the design and construction of traffic equipment and technology. And as such the "engineers have a lot to contribute and in vantage position to even advice further on what the government can do."
At the Press Conference, after the exercise, the Branch declared opened its 2017 Engineering Weeks and listed various activities scheduled for the week long event. This include the Annual General meeting, Training, Award Night, Engineering Games, Elders forum among others.
Compiled by Isqil Najim with additional report from Agboola Azeez
