LASTMA IMPOUNDS 27 VEHICLES IN STATEWIDE CRACKDOWN ON OVERLOADING, SAFETY VIOLATIONS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 27 commercial and private vehicles across the state for violating approved loading limits and other road safety regulations.
The enforcement action was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, and posted on the agency’s official X handle.
According to the statement, the vehicles were seized during an early-morning, coordinated enforcement operation carried out across major roads and inner-city routes in Lagos, following repeated public warnings and sensitisation campaigns by the agency.
LASTMA said the operation forms part of a far-reaching statewide enforcement initiative aimed at curbing the dangerous and widespread practice of vehicular overloading, which it described as a major contributor to road crashes and traffic disruptions.
“During an early-morning, coordinated enforcement exercise conducted after repeated warnings issued through multiple public sensitisation platforms, the Agency impounded twenty-seven commercial and private vehicles found to be in flagrant breach of prescribed loading limits and established safety standards,” the statement said.
The agency explained that the operation was conducted on the directive of its General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in response to growing concerns over the increasing risks posed by overloaded vehicles on major arterial roads and heavily trafficked inner-city corridors.
LASTMA revealed that assessments carried out by its enforcement officers uncovered widespread unsafe practices among motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators.
According to the agency, many drivers were found indiscriminately loading their vehicles with assorted goods, including bulky items and perishable commodities, which were improperly stored in luggage compartments or dangerously mounted on vehicle roofs.
It warned that such practices obstruct drivers’ visibility, compromise vehicle balance and stability, and significantly heighten the risk of road traffic crashes, endangering both motorists and other road users.
Describing vehicular overloading as a grave violation of traffic regulations, Bakare-Oki condemned the practice, noting that it poses serious threats to public safety.
He described the sight of commercial buses, private cars and articulated vehicles overloaded with goods, scrap metals and other materials as “unsightly and perilous,” stressing that LASTMA would maintain a zero-tolerance stance against traffic infractions that endanger lives and property.
The General Manager reaffirmed that enforcement actions against overloading and other traffic violations would be sustained and intensified across the state.
LASTMA urged motorists to adhere strictly to approved loading capacities and prioritise safety at all times, assuring the public that the agency remains committed to enforcing traffic laws professionally, transparently and without prejudice.
The agency also encouraged members of the public to report any commercial or private vehicles violating loading regulations through its toll-free hotline, 0800-005-27862, to enable prompt enforcement and corrective action.
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