Asaba, Delta State – In a bold address to the press marking his first year in office, the Director General of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA), Honourable Benjamin Okiemute, vowed to continue transforming the agency into a model of efficiency and professionalism.
Okiemute painted a stark picture of the state he inherited: a traffic authority crippled by weak infrastructure, low staff morale, and a fleet reduced to just two operational patrol vehicles across all commands.
He said under his leadership, DESTMA has embarked on a sweeping transformation: staff reorganization, vehicle repairs, and the creation of specialized operational units. Among these are the Provost Unit, Intelligence Unit, and the DESTMA Marshal, designed to bolster enforcement and enhance road safety across the state.
The results, Okiemute disclosed, have been staggering. In just one year, 4,328 vehicles were impounded, generating over ₦110 million in revenue—a remarkable 273% increase from previous years. “This is not just about numbers,” he emphasized. “It’s about safer roads, smoother traffic, and stronger collaboration with our security partners.”
The DG highlighted other achievements to include improved traffic flow, enhanced road safety measures, and elevated officer morale, aided by routine pep talks, adding that processes are underway to amend the DESTMA law, transitioning the agency toward a paramilitary structure and expanding its operational budget to sustain long-term growth.
Hon. Okiemute expressed gratitude to the Delta State government for its unwavering support and reassured citizens that DESTMA would coordinate closely with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure free-flowing traffic during the festive season.
“The journey has been challenging, but the results speak for themselves,” he concluded. “We are committed to making Delta State a benchmark for traffic management in Nigeria.” NIM
