The Lagos State Government has dismantled illegal checkpoints along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Layode, led a team of senior security officials in the operation on Monday, following a high-level meeting with officers from two Nigerian Army formations, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and a delegate from the Akran of Badagry.
During the operation, the team identified and dismantled three unauthorised Customs checkpoints at the Mowo axis, with the cooperation of the Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Seme Area Command.
Several motorists were either cautioned or apprehended for traffic violations, such as driving against the flow and speeding—behaviours linked to recent fatal crashes along the route.
At the Gbaji checkpoint, Layode instructed officers to reduce the space occupied by security personnel to allow for better traffic flow.
Addressing reporters, the commissioner said the effort was part of wider measures to curb the proliferation of illegal checkpoints that pose serious risks to commuters.
“We’ve received troubling reports that some of these checkpoints are not only worsening traffic but have also contributed to tragic accidents. For instance, the recent fatal crash in Badagry is believed to be linked to an unauthorised checkpoint,” he stated.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, according to Layode, had expressed concern over the spike in road accidents in the Badagry area and ordered immediate intervention.
In response, Layode met with commanders of the 243 Battalion and 15 Engineer Regiment of the Nigerian Army, as well as police and customs leaders in the area. All parties pledged support for the governor’s directive and agreed to streamline operations at authorised checkpoints.
The commissioner commended the joint task force for their collaboration and promised to brief the governor on the outcomes to ensure long-term order along the Lagos–Badagry corridor.
The News Agency of Nigeria also recalled that on 8 May, President Bola Tinubu launched a Presidential Task Force aimed at eliminating multiple checkpoints obstructing the movement of people and goods along major transport corridors.