The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has launched an investigation into allegations that its officers collected N100,000 from commercial bus drivers on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. A viral video surfaced showing a woman identified as Tosin accusing LASTMA personnel of arresting buses and demanding the sum before releasing the vehicles. In a statement issued Saturday in Lagos, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, confirmed the probe and described the allegations as being taken with utmost seriousness. He emphasized that LASTMA does not tolerate misconduct, abuse of office or extortion by any staff member. Adebayo stated that a thorough and impartial investigation is underway and any officer found guilty will face disciplinary action in line with established procedures. LASTMA has invited Tosin to appear at its headquarters in Oshodi with concrete evidence to support her claims, stressing that the burden of proof lies with the accuser. The authority reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and professionalism, urging the public to report misconduct through verified channels.
An invitation to a viral accuser to walk into LASTMA headquarters with evidence is not the same as accountability. Tosin's allegations may or may not hold, but the real issue is the persistent public perception that extortion thrives unchecked on major highways. If LASTMA wants trust, it must not only investigate but also make findings public. Right now, the burden should not be only on citizens to prove corruption.
