The Lagos State Government has rolled out a new 24-hour operational framework through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to strengthen traffic control and enforcement across the city.
Reiterating the administration’s dedication to urban order, public safety, and infrastructure renewal, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the initiative would revolutionize traffic management and enhance the city’s environmental integrity.
Speaking during the official launch on Thursday, Giwa explained that the new framework was designed to ensure uninterrupted mobility and safety for commuters day and night, aligning with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of a city that operates efficiently around the clock.
“This initiative reflects the governor’s strategic ambition to guarantee the uninterrupted movement of people, goods, and services in Nigeria’s economic hub—free from congestion and disorder,” Giwa said.
He noted that the 24-hour operation underscores the government’s commitment to vigilance, efficiency, and strict traffic discipline, particularly as the festive period approaches, a time known for increased vehicular and commercial activity.
The framework provides for continuous monitoring, quick emergency responses, and rapid clearance of traffic obstructions, aimed at minimizing gridlock and enhancing the commuting experience for residents.
A major component of the plan is the introduction of the Night Rapid Response Gang, a special LASTMA unit responsible for managing nighttime traffic emergencies, including vehicle breakdowns, road crashes, and other obstructions across key routes in the metropolis.
As part of broader reforms, the government also conducted a massive clearance operation along Apapa Road, Costain, and the Ijora Under Bridge, where illegal structures and shanties were demolished to restore free traffic flow and improve safety.
The enforcement, supervised by Giwa, involved a joint operation with LASTMA, the Nigeria Police Force, Mobile Police (MOPOL), the Lagos State Task Force, and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps.
It resulted in the removal of unauthorized traders, makeshift shelters, and several environmental infractions.
During the exercise, officials uncovered an illegal diesel dumping site and seized expired plantain chips and cheese balls stored in unhygienic conditions—further demonstrating the government’s stance on public health and environmental protection.
The clearance followed earlier warnings and awareness drives that urged illegal occupants to vacate bridge areas.
Teams also cleared blocked drainage systems clogged with metallic waste, which had contributed to flooding and environmental degradation.
Authorities also impounded commercial buses and tricycles operating illegally along the newly built Costain Bridge and Apapa Road, while shanties near St. Catholic Church School were pulled down to return the space to its original educational and urban purpose. Additionally, criminal hideouts beneath the Ijora Bridge were dismantled to boost security in the area.
Giwa reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu administration’s steadfast commitment to safety, environmental protection, and adherence to the rule of law, stating:
“Lagos must remain a city defined by structure, order, and discipline.”
In his remarks, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged traders, transport operators, and commuters to cooperate with the government by using designated markets and parking areas, and to support efforts aimed at sustaining a safe and orderly Lagos.
