The Lagos State Government has launched a state-wide 24-hour traffic management operation and an extensive enforcement campaign to combat gridlock and illegal structures ahead of the festive period.
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 aims to ensure smooth vehicular movement, enhance public safety, and maintain environmental order across major routes and nightlife zones in the state.
According to a statement released by LASTMA, officials have been deployed to key routes including Ikorodu Road, the Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, the Lekki–Epe Corridor, and Agege Motor Road to manage traffic round the clock, curb road indiscipline, and promote safety awareness among motorists and commuters.
Bakare-Oki noted that the operation is being supported by a multi-agency enforcement task force coordinated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa.
The task force comprises agencies such as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), LAMATA, the Nigeria Police, LAWMA, and the Public Works Corporation.
He disclosed that the joint team had already carried out a major clearance operation at the Apapa, Ijora, and Costain under-bridges, demolishing over 250 illegal shanties, removing abandoned vehicles, and evacuating makeshift encampments obstructing traffic.
During the operation, a dummy firearm and other dangerous weapons were recovered, prompting the state to renew its commitment to public safety.
To maintain order in the reclaimed areas, Bakare-Oki said commercial bus operators who previously loaded passengers illegally have been relocated to designated parks and terminals, while LAMATA has been instructed to incorporate the cleared spaces into Lagos’ mass transit system.
He also cited LASTMA’s swift response to recent heavy-duty truck accidents at Kara Bridge and Otedola Bridge, which claimed lives but were quickly managed to prevent further casualties and restore normal traffic flow.
Bakare-Oki reaffirmed the government’s commitment to keeping Lagos roads safe, orderly, and congestion-free throughout the festive season and beyond.