The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 84 commercial and private vehicles for various traffic offences during an enforcement operation across major traffic flashpoints in the state.

The enforcement exercise was carried out at Idumota, Iddo, Ijora-Olopa, Costain and Onipanu as part of efforts to restore order and ensure compliance with Lagos State traffic regulations.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said the operation was targeted at persistent traffic violations by motorists and commercial bus operators, particularly on routes where such infractions have continued to affect the free flow of traffic and endanger road users.

He expressed particular concern over the practice of commercial buses reversing against traffic along the one-way stretch from Iddo towards Idumota through Carter Bridge.

According to him, the manoeuvre is dangerous because it can catch motorists, commuters and pedestrians unaware and potentially lead to serious road crashes, injuries and fatalities.

“The enforcement exercise was principally aimed at restoring sanity, orderliness and strict compliance with extant traffic regulations.

“This is particularly along corridors where persistent violations by recalcitrant motorists and commercial bus operators have continued to pose a formidable threat to road safety and the unhindered movement of traffic,” Bakare-Oki said.

The LASTMA general manager, however, disclosed that enforcement officers encountered resistance from some individuals during the operation.

He said some LASTMA personnel were physically assaulted and injured while carrying out their statutory responsibilities.

Bakare-Oki added that some of the individuals described as miscreants and hoodlums who allegedly attacked LASTMA officials and damaged operational vehicles were apprehended.

He said the agency would continue to enforce traffic regulations despite resistance from individuals involved in activities that disrupt traffic management.

Bakare-Oki also reiterated LASTMA’s warnings against the occupation of under-bridge spaces, road setbacks and other unauthorised locations for use as illegal garages.

He explained that such practices obstruct effective traffic management and create additional risks for motorists, commuters, pedestrians and other road users.

According to him, the sustained enforcement campaign is designed not only to secure compliance with existing traffic regulations but also to discourage dangerous driving practices and protect lives and property across Lagos.

The LASTMA boss therefore urged commercial bus operators, motorists, transport unions and other stakeholders to desist from driving against traffic, dangerous reversing, illegal parking and indiscriminate loading.

He also warned road users against converting under-bridge spaces, road setbacks and other unauthorised areas into garages or loading points.

Bakare-Oki said motorists and transport operators who continued to violate traffic regulations would face appropriate enforcement measures in accordance with existing Lagos State traffic laws.

The agency’s latest operation comes amid continued efforts to tackle traffic violations and improve road safety across major Lagos corridors.

LASTMA urged all road users to cooperate with its officials and comply with traffic regulations to reduce avoidable incidents and ensure smoother movement across the state.

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, popularly known as the Lagos State Task Force, has denied stopping the driver of a Toyota Tacoma over an inscription on the vehicle or demanding a permit for the marking.

The agency’s denial followed a video shared on Facebook by Jay Scotch Automobile Ltd, in which the motorist recounted an encounter with officials who allegedly stopped him and demanded a permit for the “TRD 4×4 Sport Tacoma” inscription displayed on his vehicle.

In the video, the driver said the officials claimed that the inscription amounted to an advertisement and consequently demanded that he produce a permit.

He said, “So, I was driving this Toyota Tacoma with this TRD inscription, TRD 4×4 Sport Tacoma and Lagos Task Force had to stop me and say I should provide, you know, if there is an inscription in your car, you have to provide a permit.”

The motorist further alleged that the officials threatened to damage his vehicle’s side mirror if he failed to produce the permit.

He said, “They were like, I should provide a permit for this one. I used mouth finish them and they were threatening to spoil my side mirror if I don’t provide permit to be using this one.”

Explaining the origin of the inscription, the driver said it was not added to the vehicle for advertising purposes but came with the Toyota Tacoma when he purchased it from the United States.

He said, “Something that came in like this from the abroad or from USA where it was bought from.”

Questioning the demand by the officials, he added, “So, I don’t know.

Why are you asking me for a permit because of this TRD written on this Tacoma?”
However, the Director of Press and Public Affairs of the Lagos State Task Force, Raheem Gbadeyanka, said the agency was not responsible for the incident.

Gbadeyanka said residents often mistake officials from different government agencies for Task Force operatives, particularly when they encounter officers wearing camouflage uniforms.

He explained that the presence of a camouflage-clad officer on the road does not necessarily mean the individual is a member of the Lagos State Task Force.

“Unless you understand the ignorance of some people, if care is not taken, an individual too will be ignorant of their ignorance.

Many of them don’t really understand or know the difference between one agency of government or the other;

once they are accosted by any policeman dressed in camouflage uniform on the street, they ignorantly believe they are Task Force operatives,” Gbadeyanka said.

He also disclosed that the Task Force no longer enforces traffic-related offences following a directive from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

According to him, the agency stopped arresting traffic offenders after the directive was issued.

“Ever since the Commissioner of Police of Lagos discretionally stopped us from engaging in any traffic-related offences, the agency operatives had stopped effecting the arrest of traffic offenders,” he said.

Gbadeyanka also stated that requesting permits for inscriptions on vehicles was outside the mandate of the Task Force.

“It is also not part of our mandates to request for permits for inscriptions on vehicles,” he said.

He added that operatives of the agency could not stop vehicles for traffic offences under the leadership of the Task Force Chairman, CSP Adebayo Akerele.

“The agency operatives dare not stop any vehicle for traffic offences under the watchful eyes of disciplinarian CSP Adebayo Akerele, chairman, Lagos State Task Force,” he said.

Lagos vehicle branding regulations
The controversy has also drawn attention to Lagos State regulations concerning branding and advertisements on vehicles.

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, has previously stated that its Mobile Advert Permit applies to branded vehicles operating within the state.

PUNCH reported in November 2024 that the permit is issued to owners or users of branded vehicles, including cars, buses, pick-ups and trucks. The permit is valid from January to December and is subject to annual renewal.

LASAA’s current website also lists “Car, Truck & Bike branding” under its Mobile Branding Permit system.

In 2023, the agency said the mobile advert permit was introduced to regulate branded vehicles, with enforcement teams deployed across Lagos to ensure compliance.

Despite the existing regulations concerning vehicle branding and mobile advertising, the Lagos State Task Force maintained that its operatives were not involved in the incident involving the Toyota Tacoma.

The agency also reiterated that requesting a permit for an inscription on a vehicle does not fall within its mandate.

The incident has therefore raised questions over the identity of the officials involved and the distinction between the various enforcement agencies operating across Lagos

The Federal Government has attributed the capture of wanted terrorist Mamuda and his chief of staff to improved coordination and intelligence sharing among Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while responding to questions on the country’s security situation at a world press conference ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

Idris said the development demonstrated improved cooperation among the country’s security agencies under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the suspects, who he said had attracted bounties from the United States and European countries, were arrested without any gunfire.

“During the time of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have seen greater coordination between security agencies and intelligence services.

This, indeed, has led to the capture of one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, the so-called Mamuda and his chief of staff. Today, Mamuda and his chief of staff are having their day in court,” Idris said.

He added that the arrest reflected the growing effectiveness of intelligence sharing between the armed forces and intelligence services.

“These are people that even nations like the United States and Europe have placed bounties on their heads to capture them. But today, they have been captured without one shot fired,” the minister said.

Idris, however, acknowledged that Nigeria’s security challenges had not been completely resolved, noting that terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities remained concerns.

He said the Federal Government was strengthening the military through the provision of additional equipment and platforms while also bringing troops closer to areas where security operations were required.

The minister disclosed that the Tinubu administration had increased the number of Nigerian Army divisions from eight to 12.

He said the expansion was designed to reduce the distance troops have to cover before responding to security threats.

“All this is to ensure that the armed forces are being brought closer to areas of operation so that they don’t have to travel far and wide to confront these criminal elements and the sergeants who are making life difficult for people,” he said.

Idris further disclosed that the Federal Government had approved funding for additional military platforms and equipment for the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.

According to him, some of the equipment, including attack helicopters and other military hardware, were only recently delivered after being ordered under the previous administration, explaining that military procurement processes often take considerable time.

The minister also said the government had approved improved welfare and salaries for members of the armed forces, describing the measures as important for boosting the morale of personnel.

He said security agencies and intelligence services had also intensified collaboration in an effort to restore normalcy to communities affected by insecurity.

Idris stressed that the government was not claiming to have completely eliminated the country’s security problems.

“Now, this is not to say that we have solved all the security challenges. The government has never said that. It has been completely resolved.

But we are on a march towards exterminating this once and for all,” he said.

As an example of what he described as progress, the minister cited improved movement between Abuja and Kaduna, saying travel along the route had become easier compared with previous years.

He nevertheless acknowledged that more work was required to tackle insecurity across the country.

“Do we need to do more? Yes, indeed, we need to do more. But are we where we were? Not at all. I think that we are moving towards solving this problem,” Idris said.

He urged Nigerians and the media to recognise the efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies while continuing to report security incidents and the government’s responses.