The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)

  • One-way driver kills tricyclist in Lagos 

    One-way driver kills tricyclist in Lagos 

    A fatal road accident over the weekend at Origan, Oko-Afo, along the Badagry Expressway, has claimed the life of a commercial tricycle operator following a head-on collision with a vehicle allegedly driving against traffic.

    The crash, which has drawn widespread condemnation, involved a Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC SUV bearing the customized plate number “OSUNFNKE” and a commercial tricycle with registration number MUS 716 QM.

    Preliminary investigations by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) revealed that the SUV was driving against the designated flow of traffic — a “one-way” violation — from Ile-Epo towards Oko-Afo when it collided with the oncoming tricycle.

    The impact of the collision was fatal, as the tricycle operator sustained multiple injuries and was confirmed dead at the scene. 

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    Eyewitnesses reported that the SUV driver fled immediately after the crash, abandoning both the vehicle and the victim.

    LASTMA officials arrived promptly to manage traffic and secure the accident site, before handing over the case to the Morogbo Division of the Nigeria Police Force for investigation. 

    Officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) also responded and conveyed the deceased to the General Hospital morgue in Badagry.

    Both vehicles involved have since been towed and are currently in police custody for forensic analysis and potential legal action.

    Condemning the incident, LASTMA General Manager Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki described the driver’s conduct as “a blatant affront to public safety and a gross violation of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.”

    “This lamentable loss of life is an unfortunate testament to the deadly ramifications of impunity on our roads,” he said.

    According to him, “It is profoundly disheartening that, despite persistent enlightenment campaigns and rigorous enforcement efforts, some motorists continue to show reckless disregard for traffic regulations.”

    Bakare-Oki reiterated LASTMA’s commitment to enforcing traffic laws and promoting responsible driving behavior, urging all road users to obey traffic signage and respect the rule of law to prevent avoidable tragedies.

    The General Manager extended his condolences to the bereaved family and emphasized the need for motorists to value human life above all else.

    LASTMA further warned drivers to desist from dangerous practices, particularly driving against traffic, stressing that the agency would not relent in applying strict penalties to traffic law violators.

  • LASTMA evacuates 130 tankers over illegal parking on Lagos roads, bridges

    LASTMA evacuates 130 tankers over illegal parking on Lagos roads, bridges

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) at the weekend evacuated petroleum tankers parked illegally across major roads and bridges in the state.

    One hundred and twenty tankers, buses, and vehicles parked on Ebute-Ero Bridge and 10 others along the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Free Trade Zone were removed in an operation directed by the Special Adviser on Transportation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Sola Giwa.

    A statement by LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, noted that the activities of the tanker drivers in the state were becoming worrisome, posing an eyesore and obstructing the free flow of traffic.

    Adebayo said: “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in a decisive enforcement operation over the weekend, dislodged all illegally parked tankers around the Dangote Refinery and across the Lekki Free Trade Zone. This action followed repeated warnings issued by the Lagos State Government against such infractions.

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    “The intervention, described as a proactive measure, was aimed at averting the grave disruptions to vehicular movement that such illegal parking could cause. It ensured unimpeded access for trucks entering and exiting the Dangote Refinery and safeguarded traffic flow along the Lekki-Ajah corridor.”

    Continuing, Adebayo said Giwa reaffirmed the government’s unwavering resolve to maintain a traffic-free and orderly Lagos. He emphasized that the indiscriminate parking of tankers, particularly around the Dangote Refinery, the Lekki-Epe Free Trade Zone, and the Lekki-Ajah Expressway, would no longer be condoned.

    He expressed disappointment that these vehicles, despite repeated warnings, continued to use bridges as unauthorized parking and garage spaces.

    He reiterated the government’s commitment to sustaining surveillance in these areas, leveraging the recently introduced ‘Eto’ system, which regulates the entry and exit of trucks at the Dangote Refinery. Furthermore, LASTMA has established a dedicated Traffic Monitoring Zone (TMZ) in the Lekki axis to oversee vehicular operations and prevent further disruptions.

    “All vehicles, including tankers, private cars, and commercial buses impounded during this enforcement exercise, will be promptly arraigned before the Lagos State Mobile Courts.

    “This serves as both a punitive measure and a deterrent to others engaging in similar illegal activities. The Lagos State Government, through LASTMA, appeals to all motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to facilitate seamless movement and promote orderliness across the state,” the statement added.