Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Thursday said the government followed due process in making the state Road Traffic Law.
Fashola, who reacted to a High Court ruling that upheld the law, shortly after he was given the award of ‘Labour Friendly Governor, 2012’ by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers in Lagos, said the court had reinstated the stand of the law.
He said, “The responsibility for municipal management of traffic in any state can only be resided in the elected authority of that state. The legislative power therefore belongs to the parliament of that state.
“So if parliament deliberate and passes a bill into law and follows all of the processes required, it is not a good idea for anyone to challenge such law.
“I think in the suit was an ill-conceived action. People must understand how democratic process works. A law is not cast in stone. The same members of parliament always reserve the right to amend and to modify.”
In a separate reaction to the judgment, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, commended the motorcycle operators for challenging the law through constitutional means.
He urged the motorcyclists to team up with the government in ensuring that transportation system in the state was befitting of a mega city.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the judgement had affirmed the desire of Lagosians to commute in a safe and conducive environment.
Meanwhile, Fashola at the award ceremony, urged NUPENG to change its method of transporting its products.
He said, “There is no nation in the world that engages in moving heavy loads on the road and has good roads. If we continue like this, we will end up not having good roads always because the containerised truck and petrol tanker plying the high ways destroy them.
“There is nothing wrong with the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Apapa-Oshodi expressway and others, it was our activities that are causing damage on the ever busy road.
“The best solution is to put your products on rail. That is the only way the road can last. Road is a diminishing assets. If we work together we can solve the little problem that may be affecting its efficiency.”