The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has impounded 27 commercial and private vehicles across the state for violating loading limits and traffic safety regulations.
The enforcement action was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, and shared on the agency’s official X platform.
According to the agency, the vehicles were seized during a coordinated early-morning operation carried out after repeated warnings and public sensitisation campaigns aimed at curbing unsafe road practices.
“LASTMA has commenced a comprehensive statewide enforcement drive to address the dangerous and widespread practice of vehicular overloading, in line with our mandate to improve road safety and ensure strict compliance with traffic laws across Lagos State,” the statement said.
The agency explained that the operation followed growing concerns over the risks posed by overloaded vehicles on major highways and inner-city roads.
“The exercise was conducted on the directive of the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in response to the increasing danger posed by overloaded vehicles on arterial routes and densely trafficked areas,” it stated.
LASTMA disclosed that field officers observed widespread unsafe practices, particularly among commercial vehicle operators, during the operation.
“Enforcement officers discovered that many motorists, especially commercial drivers, were conveying excessive loads, including bulky and perishable goods, inside luggage compartments and on vehicle rooftops in ways that compromise stability and safety,” the agency said.
It warned that such practices obstruct drivers’ visibility, destabilise vehicles, and significantly increase the likelihood of road crashes.
Commenting on the operation, Bakare-Oki described vehicular overloading as a serious traffic offence that endangers both offenders and other road users.
“What we continue to witness on our roads is an unsightly and perilous situation where buses, private cars and articulated vehicles are recklessly overloaded with goods and scrap materials,” he said.
He reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance policy toward traffic violations, stressing that enforcement would not be relaxed.
“Our commitment to enforcing traffic regulations that protect lives and property remains firm. These enforcement exercises will be sustained and intensified where necessary,” Bakare-Oki added.
LASTMA urged motorists to adhere strictly to approved loading capacities and prioritise safety at all times, noting that enforcement would be carried out professionally and without bias.
The agency also encouraged residents to report traffic violations, particularly cases of overloading, through its toll-free hotline for prompt intervention.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any commercial or private vehicles violating prescribed loading limits via our toll-free line, 0800-005-27862, to enable swift enforcement action,” the statement concluded.
