The Director General of the Delta State Traffic Management Agency (DESTMA), Hon. Benjamin Okiemute, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, appeared before the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Transport to present and defend the agency’s proposed 2026 budget.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Festus Chukwuyem Okoh, Deputy Majority Leader and member representing Ika South Constituency, scrutinised DESTMA’s performance in 2025 and expectations for the new fiscal year.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the budget defence, Hon. Okiemute explained that the agency had recorded visible improvements since his assumption of office, attributing the progress to the support of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, DESTMA board members, and the agency’s staff.
According to him, the transformation in DESTMA’s operations, staff attitude, and infrastructure is evident when compared with the situation before he took over the leadership of the agency.
“We met the system at a difficult stage, but with the support of the governor and the agency’s workforce, we have brought DESTMA to life,” he said. “The testimony is there for everyone to see in our discipline, attitude, and infrastructure.”
Hon. Okiemute revealed that the agency has prioritised discipline—both within DESTMA and among road users. He noted that maintaining order on the roads requires consistent staff training and public engagement.
“We introduced Pep Talk sessions every Monday and Thursday,” he explained. “This helps our staff understand how to engage the public. Our job is not to collaborate but to enforce discipline on the roads.”
He added that the agency now runs a traffic education school for violators, where offenders are taught traffic rules and the need to maintain order on the roads.
While appreciating the progress made, the DG emphasised that DESTMA still requires more operational tools to function optimally. He told the committee that the agency needs additional operational vehicles and tow trucks to enhance enforcement.
“If you visit our yard today, you will see the number of vehicles we manage daily. We are doing our best, but we need more tools to strengthen operations,” he said.
Okiemute also revealed that Governor Oborevwori has approved the domestication and expansion of DESTMA operations to the remaining 18 local government areas of the state, a move expected to create jobs and improve traffic discipline statewide.
Responding to questions on technology, Hon. Okiemute praised the Ministry and Directorate of Transport for the recent deployment of traffic cameras that detect violators and automatically issue notifications.
He noted that the system complements DESTMA’s physical operations but cannot fully replace human enforcement within areas not covered by the cameras.
“The camera system is a welcome idea. It supports our work, but it cannot cover every area. That is why our physical presence is still important,” he said.
The DG assured lawmakers and the public that 2026 will witness even greater improvements in traffic management once the agency receives the tools it has requested in the budget.
“When the governor provides what we have asked for, DESTMA will be transformed,” he stated. “We are working toward a peaceful and orderly traffic environment across Delta State.”
