The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has impounded 173 vehicles for illegal parking and road obstruction.
According to LASTMA, 125 of the impounded vehicles were commercial buses, while 48 were privately owned.
The enforcement operation was conducted across several gridlock-prone areas, including Idumota, Ijaye Street, Martins, Ereko, Nnamdi Azikiwe (by Tom Jones), Ebute-Ero, Oyingbo, Ijora, Adeniji Adele, and Iddo.
A significant number of offenders were caught engaging in dangerous manoeuvres, such as driving against traffic (one-way) and making hazardous reversals between Iddo and Idumota to pick up passengers.
The operation, led by LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, specifically targeted unauthorised garages that have long contributed to persistent traffic congestion, causing hardship for commuters and residents.
In a statement on Thursday, LASTMA’s spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing traffic laws and restoring order on Lagos roads.
“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,” Adebayo quoted Bakare-Oki as saying.
“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 actualising that vision.”
Bakare-Oki noted that key congestion hotspots, including Iddo to Idumota, Oyingbo, Ebute-Ero, and Adeniji Adele Roundabout, have been persistently plagued by illegal parking and makeshift garages.
“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 stated.
The general manager urged all motorists to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and cooperate with authorities to avoid penalties.
He also called on the public to play an active role in maintaining order by reporting abandoned or broken-down vehicles to LASTMA via the agency’s toll-free hotline: 080000527862.