The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a resolute and uncompromising enforcement initiative designed to restore traffic discipline and facilitate easy movement of vehicles, seized 125 commercial buses and 48 privately owned cars for flagrant violations, including unauthorised parking and severe road obstructions.
This was executed across notorious gridlock-prone corridors such as Idumota, Ijaye Street, Martins, Ereko, Nnamdi Azikiwe by Tom Jones, Ebute-Ero, Oyingbo, Ijora, Adeniji Adele, and Iddo.
According to Adebayo Taofiq, director, public affairs and enlightenment department LASTMA, this enforcement underscores the agency’s unwavering commitment to eradicating chronic traffic congestion and mitigating reckless road practices, particularly among commercial transport operators and private motorists who flout established regulations.
“A significant number of the offenders were caught engaging in perilous maneuvers, such as driving against traffic (one-way) and executing hazardous reversals from Iddo to Idumota to pick up passengers—reckless actions that have precipitated multiple road accidents and senseless loss of lives,” he stated.
Spearheading this decisive operation was Olalekan Bakare-Oki, general manager of LASTMA, acting under the strategic directive of Sola Giwa, special adviser to the governor on transportation.
Taofiq added that the initiative targeted unauthorised garages that have long served as catalysts for intractable gridlocks, inflicting undue hardship on commuters and residents alike.
Reaffirming that this crackdown represents an ongoing and sustained effort, Bakare-Oki emphasised its alignment with the overarching vision of the Lagos State Government to optimise the efficiency of the metropolis’ transportation infrastructure.
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“The state government remains resolute in its enforcement of traffic regulations and the restoration of order on our roads. The proliferation of illegal garages and indiscriminate obstructions by both commercial and private vehicles continues to be a formidable impediment to our goal of achieving seamless mobility within Lagos,” he said.
These stringent enforcement measures serve as a plain warning to all road users that flagrant disregard for traffic laws will no longer be tolerated.
“Our ultimate objective is to cultivate a transportation ecosystem that is safe, orderly, and highly efficient for all road users. This enforcement drive represents a pivotal step toward actualizing that vision,” Bakare-Oki reiterated.
He further highlighted that notorious congestion hotspots such as Iddo to Idumota, Oyingbo, Ebute-Ero, and the Adeniji Adele roundabout have been perpetually plagued by illegal parking and the proliferation of makeshift garages—an issue that must be decisively addressed.
“The indiscriminate operations of commercial bus drivers not only obstruct vehicular movement but also constitute a grave hazard to pedestrian safety.
“LASTMA’s intervention is imperative to dismantle these bottlenecks and facilitate seamless traffic circulation in these critical locations,” Bakare-Oki added.
In response to this initiative, residents and business owners have expressed strong approval, acknowledging its profound impact on easing daily commutes and revitalising commercial activities.
LASTMA has assured the public that this operation will be systematically extended to other areas afflicted by unauthorised parking and related infractions.
The general manager urged all motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations and cooperate with authorities to avoid punitive measures.
Additionally, he called on the general public to actively contribute to maintaining order by promptly reporting abandoned or broken-down trailers and trucks to LASTMA via the agency’s toll-free hotline.
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