The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 27 commercial and private vehicles across Lagos for violating loading regulations and road safety standards.
The agency announced the action in a statement on Thursday, issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, and posted on its official X handle.
According to LASTMA, the vehicles were seized during an early-morning, coordinated enforcement operation conducted after repeated public warnings and sensitisation campaigns.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has commenced a far-reaching statewide enforcement initiative aimed at curbing the pervasive and hazardous practice of vehicular overloading, as part of its sustained commitment to enhancing road safety and enforcing compliance with traffic regulations across Lagos State,” the statement said.
LASTMA explained that field assessments revealed widespread unsafe practices among motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, who were indiscriminately loading goods—including bulky items and perishable commodities—within luggage compartments or atop vehicle roofs. Such practices, the agency warned, obstruct visibility, destabilise vehicles, and increase the risk of accidents.
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The operation was carried out under the directive of LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, following concerns over rising road safety risks posed by overloaded vehicles on major roads and inner-city routes.
Describing overloading as “an unsightly and perilous spectacle,” Bakare-Oki condemned the practice, stressing that enforcement would remain firm. He reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance stance against all traffic violations that endanger lives and property.
LASTMA urged motorists to comply with approved loading capacities and prioritise road safety. Members of the public are also encouraged to report overloaded vehicles through the LASTMA toll-free hotline: 0800-005-27862 to facilitate swift enforcement.