SAD:LASTMA official, who slumped on traffic duty, is dead......SEE PHOTO

Firstclass newsline learnt that an official of the Lagos State Traffic
Management Authority, who slumped while controlling traffic on Ishaga
Road in the Idi-Araba, Mushin area on Saturday, has died.
Firstclass newsline learnt that the official, Kazeem Lawal, was
brought in dead to the Randle Hospital, Surulere, where his colleagues
had rushed him.
A source had reported that the official, who was among LASTMA
officials on duty for an event at the Chapel of the Healing Cross,
collapsed at about 1.30pm.
It was also reported that Lawal, who was gasping for breath, was
rushed to a hospital after he did not respond to preliminary
treatment.
Firstclass newsline learnt that Lawal, who was attached to LASTMA Zone
3, Iponri, died on the way to the hospital.
The matter was said to have been reported at the Alakara Police Division.
One of the colleagues of the deceased, who spoke to a source on
condition of anonymity, said, "He was initially taken to the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital, but he could not be attended to because
of the ongoing strike action. He was then rushed to the Randle
Hospital where he was confirmed dead.
"We do not have any insurance policy. We do not have any hazard
allowance. It is very painful.
"His family members are in disarray at present. We work round the
clock, and we are usually overwhelmed. He must have collapsed from
accumulated stress.
"Since the government sacked some LASTMA workers last year, there has
been a burden on the workforce. Work posts, where seven personnel were
handling, have been reduced to one or two."
Firstclass newsline learnt that LASTMA officials, policemen and
National Union of Transport Workers besieged the hospital on Sunday.
"The whole thing happened so fast and so shocking. By the time they
took him to the Randle Hospital, he had died," another LASTMA official
said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu,
said he would get back to our correspondent on the matter.
He said, "I am still awaiting details on the incident. I will call you
back when I have them."
The Public Relations Officer, LASTMA, Bola Ajao, could not be reached
as calls put across to her phone did not connect. A text message sent
to her also had yet to be replied to.
Firstclassnewsline.net