The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has moved swiftly to debunk a viral social media video which claimed that motorists had been instructed to drive through the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane from Ojota, leading to a heated debate online.
The video, circulated by a platform known as Lagos Reporters on Facebook, featured a strident voice accusing LASTMA operatives of unfairly arresting drivers at Idi-Iroko, inward Anthony, along Ikorodu Road. The narrator alleged that officials had earlier directed vehicles to use the restricted corridor.
But in a strongly worded response on Thursday, LASTMA described the claim as “mendacious, misleading, and mischievous,” stressing that no such instruction was ever issued by its personnel.
According to the Authority, the only temporary approval for motorists to use BRT lanes in Lagos applies exclusively to two corridors—Odo-Iya Alaro and Eko Bridge. These concessions, it explained, were designed to ease gridlock caused by ongoing expansion joint repairs at Ifako-Ogudu Bridge, inbound Lagos.
The agency emphasized that no such dispensation exists for the Idi-Iroko–Anthony stretch of Ikorodu Road. “At no point were motorists asked to use the BRT lane at Idi-Iroko,” the statement read, dismissing the allegations as “a complete fabrication.”
To put the matter beyond doubt, LASTMA disclosed that it carried out an internal investigation into the viral video. The probe found that no officer gave permission for motorists to encroach on the corridor. Instead, it revealed that the main carriageway at Idi-Iroko was free-flowing at the time, contrary to the congestion portrayed online.
Visual evidence obtained from the same spot, the agency added, clearly showed vehicles moving smoothly without hindrance. This, it insisted, proved that the allegation was not only false but deliberately concocted to mislead the public.
LASTMA noted that as the body charged with entrenching traffic discipline across Lagos, it cannot afford to compromise the sanctity of transport corridors. The BRT lanes, it stressed, are critical to the effectiveness of the state’s mass transit system and must remain protected from abuse.
The Authority therefore warned motorists against falling for or spreading unverified stories on social media. “Falsehoods can mislead drivers into committing offences that attract stiff penalties,” it cautioned.
It also reminded drivers that anyone caught unlawfully using the BRT corridor will face immediate arrest and prosecution. “We will not relent in enforcing discipline and orderliness on Lagos roads,” the agency maintained.
On the rehabilitation of the Ifako-Ogudu Bridge, LASTMA assured commuters that work is being expedited to minimize hardship. Once completed, it said, all temporary relief measures allowing cars into specific BRT corridors will be immediately withdrawn.
Officials appealed to residents to remain patient, promising that the road repairs are in the overall interest of commuters and will improve long-term travel efficiency.
To avoid confusion, LASTMA urged the public to seek information only through its official channels, including its toll-free hotline: 080000527862. It warned against relying on unverified social media sources that often peddle “half-truths and outright falsehoods.”
The statement, signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, concluded by reiterating LASTMA’s commitment to restoring order, enhancing safety, and ensuring smoother traffic flow across Lagos.
With this clarification, the agency hopes to put to rest the controversy stirred by the viral video and reassure Lagosians of its unwavering focus on law enforcement and service delivery.
