Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) operatives have impounded 125 commercial buses and 48 private cars for allegedly violating traffic laws, including unauthorized parking and causing severe road obstructions.
The LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, who made this known in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, said the seizure of the vehicles was in line with the resolute and uncompromising enforcement initiative of the state government.
According to him, the initiative is designed to restore traffic discipline and facilitate the unhindered movement of vehicles in the state.
According to Taofiq, the crackdown was executed across “notorious gridlock-prone corridors” including Idumota, Ijaye Street, Martins, Ereko, Nnamdi Azikiwe by Tom Jones, Ebute-Ero, Oyingbo, Ijora, Adeniji Adele, and Iddo.
He said, “This rigorous enforcement underscores LASTMA’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.
“Spearheading this decisive operation was the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, acting under the strategic directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa.”
Taofiq noted that the initiative specifically targeted unauthorized garages that have long served as catalysts for intractable gridlocks, inflicting undue hardship on commuters and residents alike.
Reaffirming that the crackdown represents an ongoing and sustained effort, Taofiq quoted Bakare-Oki as emphasizing its alignment with the overarching vision of the Lagos State government to optimize the efficiency of the metropolis’ transportation infrastructure.
Bakare-Oki said, “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 added, “These stringent enforcement measures serve as an unequivocal 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.”
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,” he said.
LASTMA assured the public that the operation will be systematically extended to other areas affected by unauthorized parking and related infractions.
