LASTMA CLAMPS DOWN ON ILLEGAL GARAGES, ROADSIDE PARKS, IMPOUNDS 155 VEHICLES ON LAGOS ISLAND AS GOVT REITERATES ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SHANTIES, UNDER-BRIDGE ENCROACHMENTS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has intensified its citywide enforcement operations, impounding 155 vehicles including tricycles and heavy-duty trucks for operating illegal garages and roadside parks that have contributed to chronic traffic congestion across Lagos Island.
The large-scale clampdown, supervised by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, forms part of the government’s renewed effort to restore metropolitan order, ensure free vehicular flow, and eliminate traffic bottlenecks ahead of the festive season.
According to Hon. Giwa, the operation aligns with the 24-hour traffic management and control mandate of LASTMA and supports Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s broader policy framework to promote discipline, compliance, and safety across all transport corridors.
“Illegal garages, unregulated markets, and roadside shanties have persistently undermined our collective aspiration for a smooth and orderly traffic system in Lagos. These impoundments send a strong and unequivocal signal that the State Government will no longer condone any unlawful activity capable of disrupting public order or endangering lives and property,” Hon. Giwa stated.
He emphasized that the primary goal of the enforcement campaign is to create a safe, habitable, and aesthetically ordered environment for both motorists and pedestrians while restoring discipline and civility to Lagos traffic corridors.
The exercise focused on major congestion hotspots including Ebute-Ero, Oke-Arin Market, Odofin Street, Elegbata, and Marina (Oando Under Bridge) — areas long identified as flashpoints for unauthorized parking, indiscriminate trading, and makeshift garages.
Authorities noted that these illegal structures and trading activities have not only obstructed vehicular movement but also posed safety risks to pedestrians and legitimate business operators. The crackdown, therefore, aims to dismantle obstructions, improve traffic flow, and enhance commuter experience within Lagos Island and adjoining routes.
Residents and business owners in the affected areas welcomed the government’s decisive move, describing it as a necessary and overdue intervention to reclaim public spaces, restore order, and improve urban safety.
Hon. Giwa assured that the enforcement would be sustained and expanded to other parts of the state where similar illegalities persist. He urged motorists, traders, and transport operators to adhere strictly to traffic and environmental regulations, stressing that voluntary compliance remains key to achieving a functional transport system.
He also encouraged motorists to report broken-down or abandoned vehicles to LASTMA through the agency’s toll-free emergency hotline (0810000527862).
“The ultimate vision of the Lagos State Government is to bequeath to residents a safer, cleaner, and more livable city. Adherence to traffic regulations is not merely a legal requirement but a civic duty essential to achieving this shared aspiration,” he concluded.
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