LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has taken a firm stance against the unauthorised portrayal of its personnel and use of its uniforms in films and skits.
The agency expressed its displeasure through a press release, highlighting the illegality of such portrayals without official permission.
The press statement on Friday, August 11, 2023, voiced by LASTMA’s spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, strongly denounced the unsanctioned use of the institution’s uniforms, kits, and other related items by filmmakers and skit creators.
Taofiq emphasized that such portrayals often belittle and misrepresent the role and image of LASTMA in the society.
Bolaji Oreagba, the General Manager of LASTMA, pointed out the particular offense taken from witnessing a Nollywood actress fully dressed in a LASTMA uniform in the film ‘Gbogbo Lowo’.
Numerous other skits on various social media platforms also make unauthorized use of the uniform, further diluting its significance and potentially compromising the authority and respect associated with the institution.
Oreagba drew attention to Section 79 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, which explicitly criminalizes the unauthorized usage of the LASTMA uniform.
He sternly warned filmmakers and content creators who impersonate LASTMA officers without obtaining the necessary permits, cautioning them to cease such actions immediately or face legal consequences.
The General Manager expressed his belief that upholding the integrity of movie production and ensuring proper regulation regarding the use of LASTMA uniforms would assist in curbing their rampant and unauthorized appearances in the media.
This would further protect the sanctity and respect of the institution’s image.
Addressing relevant stakeholders, Oreagba said, “We urge the National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTA, and other related bodies to notify their members. Any individual caught wearing a LASTMA uniform without a sanctioned permit will face prosecution.”
The move by LASTMA to enforce its image rights underscores the broader issue of how public institutions and figures are represented in media, and the balance that needs to be struck between creative expression and respect for institutions.
