Lagos Govt Launches 24-Hour Traffic Operation, Clears Illegal Structures Ahead of Festive Season

The Lagos State Government has declared a state-wide, 24-hour traffic management operation and extensive enforcement campaign aimed at tackling gridlock and illegal structures ahead of the festive season.

The initiative, tagged “Operation Ember Months Stability,” was announced by the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who said the exercise seeks to ensure smooth vehicular movement, enhance public safety, and maintain environmental order across major corridors and nightlife zones in the state.

According to a statement released by LASTMA, personnel have been deployed to strategic routes including Ikorodu Road, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lekki-Epe Corridor, and Agege Motor Road to manage traffic round the clock, discourage road indiscipline, and promote safety awareness among motorists and commuters.

Bakare-Oki explained that the operation is supported by a multi-agency enforcement task force coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa.
The task force includes agencies such as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), LAMATA, the Nigeria Police, LAWMA, and the Public Works Corporation.

He revealed that the joint team had already conducted a sweeping clearance operation at Apapa, Ijora, and Costain under-bridges, demolishing over 250 illegal shanties, removing derelict vehicles, and evacuating makeshift encampments obstructing major roadways.

During the operation, a dummy firearm and other dangerous weapons were reportedly recovered, prompting renewed commitments by the state to enhance public safety.

To sustain order in the reclaimed areas, Bakare-Oki said commercial bus operators previously loading illegally have been relocated to designated parks and terminals, while LAMATA has been directed to integrate the cleared spaces into Lagos’ mass transit infrastructure.

He also cited LASTMA’s swift response during recent heavy-duty truck crashes at Kara Bridge and Otedola Bridge, noting that the agency promptly restored normal traffic flow after the incidents.

Bakare-Oki reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Lagos roads remain safe, orderly, and free-flowing throughout the festive period and beyond.