Published 14th Oct, 2021

By Emmanuel Uti

Nigerians are reacting to the latest press release from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) titled: “LASTMA ASKS LAGOS DRIVER TO PAY N60,000 AFTER HIS CAR RAN OUT OF FUEL.”

On Tuesday, FIJ had reported how LASTMA officials seized a Toyota Sienna belonging to Chidiebere Nwaiwu and asked him to pay a fine of N60,000 because his car ran out of fuel.

Nwaiwu had told FIJ his mechanic was driving around Airport Road in Oshodi to ascertain what was wrong with the car when the fuel in it got exhausted. He then parked by the roadside to avoid causing gridlock and rushed to get fuel from the nearest filling station.

However, in less than 10 minutes after the mechanic left, LASTMA officials got to where the car was and towed it away. The officials did not listen to what the mechanic had to say. Next, they changed the narrative, claiming the mechanic had parked the car in the middle of the road.

He also said he knew the officers wanted to extort some money from him the moment he spoke to them over the phone.

“When I got to their office at Oshodi, they delayed me for hours,” Nwaiwu said.

Following FIJ’s story, LASTMA reacted with a press release on Facebook, stating that “allowing fuel to be exhausted in one’s vehicle on the highway does not show responsibility.”

“It should be noted that LASTMA will not be irresponsible as to leave such vehicle on the road, so as not to disturb other road users, while the said sixty-thousand-naira (=N=60,000.00) fine is broken down into Wilful Obstruction – fifty thousand naira (=N=50,000.00) and Towing fee – ten thousand naira (=N=10,000.00) as specified in the Lagos State Transport Law of 2018,” a part of the statement reads, adding that it“does not amount to an arbitrary imposition of fine”.

However, Nigerians on Facebook did not take the press release lightly, with many branding LASTMA’s actions as unfair — and doing it in strong terms.