Ambode Fires LASTMA Boss, Appoints Fashola, Others As Perm Secs

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Young Arabamen has been sacked by the Lagos State government.

He was sacked on Monday and has been replaced him with a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. Christian Akioja Olakpe with immediate effect.

Arabamen, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, headed LASTMA for over a decade, since the administration of former governor Bola Tinubu.

The appointment of Olakpe, according to the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, was part of efforts to revamp the agency for improved performance and better relations with the public.

“The impetus expected with the previous appointment was not fully actualized due to the docile nature of the headship of the Authority,” he said.

The governor added that Olakpe is qualified for the job based on his wealth of experience.

A graduate of Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Olakpe joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1982 and was at different times Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa and Plateau states.

He was also the Deputy Commandant of the Police Academy, Kano and Commissioner of Police of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Lagos.

A Member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians (IABT) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (ICAP), Olakpe rose to become Assistant Inspector General of Police before his retirement in 2014.

It would be recalled that Governor Ambode recently approved the appointment of a new General Manager for the Authority in the person of Mr. Bashir Braimah.

Meanwhile, Governor Ambode on Monday also approved the appointment of Mr. Taofik Fashola, Mr. Tunde Ogunleye and Mr. Fola Padonu as Permanent Secretaries in the Lagos State Public Service while he redeployed seven others.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, the governor said the appointment was in line with the ongoing restructuring of the State Public Service for optimal, effective and efficient service delivery.

Fashola, who until his appointment was Director, Admin and Human Resource of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, is now the Permanent Secretary, Audit Service Commission.

Ogunleye, who was Director of Accounts in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, is now the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, while Mr. Padonu, who was Director, Planning in the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, has been appointed as the Permanent Secretary in the ministry.

Those redeployed include Arch. Folusho Dipe, from Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to Ministry of Housing; Mrs. Folashade Ogunnaike, from Cabinet Office to Ministry of Establishment and Training; Mrs. Omobolanle Ogunmola, from Ministry of Establishment to Civil Service Pensions Office.

Others include Mr. James Odupitan, from Audit Service Commission to Cabinet Office; Mrs. Boladele Aderemi Dapo-Thomas, from Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development;and Mrs. Olanike Oduwole, from Ministry of Wealth Creation to Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

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