Emmanuel lkpeama
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has issued a zero-tolerance warning to motorists against indiscriminate parking and obstruction of access routes around places of worship and social convergence points during cross-over night celebrations.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr.Olalekan Bakare-Oki, issued a firm,unambiguous and statewide warning to members of the public particularly motorists against indiscriminate parking and the unlawful obstruction of access routes around places of worship, markets, nightclubs, event centres and other major social convergence points.
He stated that LASTMA will rigorously enforce traffic regulations to ensure seamless vehicular mobility and public safety. Officers will be positioned at identified flashpoints to prevent congestion and unlawful obstructions.
The General Manager noted that cross-over night is characteristically marked by an exponential increase in vehicular and pedestrian movements, further exacerbated by loosely coordinated social activities such as carnivals, street jams, roadside festivities and spontaneous celebrations.
While acknowledging the cultural, religious and communal importance of these activities, LASTMA strongly condemns the abuse of public road infrastructure through its conversion into improvised parking spaces or informal event venues, describing such acts as egregious violations of traffic regulations with far-reaching implications for public safety, emergency response and urban mobility.
Bakare-Oki therefore admonished motorists to refrain from abandoning vehicles on carriageways, road shoulders, medians, pedestrian walkways and critical access corridors leading to worship centres and social hubs.
He equally cautioned organisers and participants of carnivals, street parties and other festive activities against blocking highways, inner roads or access routes without lawful authorisation and prior coordination with relevant government authorities.
Addressing the anticipated traffic challenges, the General Manager disclosed that LASTMA has activated a reinforced traffic management, monitoring and enforcement framework for cross-over night.
According to him, a corps of trained officers reinforced by rapid response units and advance surveillance teams operating under the ‘LASTMA 24-Hour Night Gangs’ a dedicated initiative inaugurated recently will continue to be tactically positioned to identified flashpoints statewide to ensure seamless vehicular mobility, rigorously enforce parking regulations and swiftly neutralise any unlawful obstructions to traffic flow.
He emphasised that offenders will be sanctioned in strict compliance with extant traffic laws, without exception.
Bakare-Oki further appealed to religious institutions, market leaderships, club operators and event organisers to exhibit heightened civic consciousness by making adequate parking provisions, deploying internal traffic control mechanisms and engaging proactively with traffic authorities to prevent congestion spillover onto public roads.
The Agency also urged residents and visitors alike to cooperate fully with traffic officials, comply with all traffic directives and exercise patience, restraint and responsibility as Lagos ushers in the new year.
In his words, “Collective compliance remains indispensable to the realisation of a peaceful, orderly and seamlessly managed cross-over night across Lagos State.”
LASTMA reiterates its unwavering commitment to its statutory mandate of safeguarding lives, maintaining public order on the roads and ensuring efficient traffic movement across the metropolis.
“In the event of any traffic-related incidents or emergencies, members of the public are advised to contact LASTMA toll-free hotline on 0800 005 27862 for immediate and real-time intervention.”he submitted
