Busted: How LASTMA arrested 61,000 vehicles in six months

Over 61,000 vehicles were caught violating traffic laws in Lagos State between January and June 2025, as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) stepped up enforcement using both boots on the ground and smart technology.

Of this figure, more than 7,000 vehicles were arrested through physical enforcement by traffic officers. A further 54,000 were flagged using Traffic Management Solutions (TMS), a tech-based tracking tool introduced to make roads safer.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, told the News Agency of Nigeria that more than 1,000 broken-down vehicles were cleared from roads. “We also recorded over 700 crashes in that time,” he said. “Our technology has helped tremendously.”

“Motorists now face fines of up to ₦50,000 for vehicles that break down and block highways,” he continued. “The crackdown is part of a broader move to keep traffic flowing and reduce accidents in Nigeria’s most populous city.”

Bakare-Oki added that LASTMA began a year-long weekly training program for its officers in January 2025. Erring officials were not spared either; sanctions include demotion, dismissal, and warning letters in line with public service rules.

The agency has also launched traffic education campaigns, including a monthly awareness drive and the formation of a Female Elite Corps and LASTMA Mayor initiative. “Traffic management is a shared duty and we are doing everything to make Lagos roads safer,” Bakare-Oki said.

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