The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has intensified its enforcement operations across Lagos Island, impounding 155 vehicles, including tricycles and heavy-duty trucks, found operating illegal garages and roadside parks. The clampdown, according to officials, is part of a broader government effort to restore order, eliminate traffic bottlenecks, and reclaim public spaces from encroachment.
Supervised by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, the large-scale operation targeted notorious areas such as Ebute-Ero, Oke-Arin Market, Odofin Street, Elegbata, and Marina (Oando Under Bridge)—all known for chronic gridlock caused by unauthorized parking and roadside trading.
Hon. Giwa explained that the exercise aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s zero-tolerance policy for traffic law violations, illegal structures, and under-bridge encroachments. He noted that the initiative forms a vital part of the state’s renewed 24-hour traffic management strategy designed to ensure smoother mobility ahead of the festive season.
“The state government will not condone any illegal activity that compromises road safety or public order,” Giwa declared. “These impoundments are not punitive but corrective measures aimed at restoring discipline, law, and order across our roads.”
He stressed that unregulated garages, street trading, and makeshift shanties have become breeding grounds for congestion and insecurity, threatening both commuters and businesses. According to him, removing such obstructions is key to creating a safer, cleaner, and more organized Lagos.
The crackdown, officials say, also aims to dismantle environmental hazards and prevent accidents caused by indiscriminate parking. Authorities emphasized that most of the impounded vehicles were obstructing major traffic corridors and hindering emergency response accessibility.
Residents and business operators in affected areas expressed support for the move, describing it as a long-overdue intervention to reclaim Lagos Island’s aesthetic and commercial appeal. Many praised the Sanwo-Olu administration for taking decisive steps to restore sanity to public roads.
Hon. Giwa assured that the enforcement would continue in other parts of the state where similar illegal activities persist. He urged motorists, traders, and transport operators to comply voluntarily with traffic regulations and avoid confrontation with enforcement officials.
He further encouraged members of the public to take ownership of their environment by reporting abandoned or broken-down vehicles to LASTMA via the agency’s emergency hotline: 0810000527862.
“The vision of the Lagos State Government,” he concluded, “is to build a safer, cleaner, and more livable city for all. Compliance with traffic and environmental laws is not just a duty—it’s a shared civic responsibility toward achieving that goal.”
