The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has impounded 27 commercial and private vehicles across Lagos for violating loading regulations and road safety standards.
The vehicles were seized during an early-morning, coordinated enforcement operation carried out after repeated public warnings and sensitisation campaigns by the agency.
According to LASTMA, “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 uncompromising compliance with extant traffic regulations across Lagos State.”
It explained that “the operation was executed in strict accordance with the directive of the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, following heightened concerns over the escalating risks posed by overloaded vehicles on major arterial corridors and densely trafficked inner-city routes.”
According to the agency, “LASTMA enforcement officers’ field assessment exposed a deeply disconcerting pattern wherein motorists, particularly operators of commercial vehicles, indiscriminately burden their vehicles with assorted goods, including bulky items and perishable commodities, stored indiscriminately within luggage compartments and precariously mounted atop vehicle roofs.”
It warned that such practices obstruct visibility, destabilise vehicles, and significantly increase the risk of road crashes.
LASTMA urged motorists to comply strictly with approved loading capacities and prioritise safety, stating that the agency remains committed to enforcing traffic laws professionally and without prejudice
