The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rolled out a comprehensive traffic management plan aimed at easing congestion and ensuring smooth vehicular movement across the metropolis during the yuletide festivities.
The initiative, according to the agency, is in response to the anticipated surge in traffic occasioned by concerts, carnivals, end-of-year celebrations, religious gatherings and other recreational activities associated with the festive season.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA said it had “operationalised an expansive, intelligence-led traffic control architecture purposefully designed to safeguard seamless vehicular movement and enhance public safety across the entire Lagos metropolis.”
The agency disclosed that it has boosted its operational readiness through the deployment of seasoned traffic officers, enhanced surveillance mechanisms and 24-hour monitoring of major routes, event venues and known traffic flashpoints across the state.
Speaking on the initiative, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged proprietors and operators of event centres, clubs, lounges and other entertainment facilities to institute effective internal traffic and parking management plans capable of accommodating patrons strictly within their premises.
He warned that any vehicular spillover onto public roads, which could lead to obstruction or gridlock, would attract firm enforcement actions.
“Such practices flagrantly infringe upon the collective right of Lagosians to safe, orderly and unhindered mobility,” Bakare-Oki cautioned.
In a similar vein, market leaders, traders’ unions and other commercial stakeholders were advised to restrain their members from the illegal display of wares on carriageways, walkways and pedestrian corridors.
LASTMA noted that encroachment on these public spaces forces pedestrians to dangerously compete with moving vehicles for right of way, thereby increasing the risk of avoidable road crashes and worsening traffic congestion.
The agency also issued a stern advisory to motorists to ensure their vehicles are in sound mechanical condition before embarking on journeys during the festive period. It warned against driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances and reiterated the need for strict adherence to government-approved speed limits.
LASTMA stressed that reckless driving remains a major cause of road traffic crashes and assured the public that its enforcement teams would remain alert, proactive and uncompromising in enforcing traffic regulations throughout the “Detty December” period and beyond.
The authority added that illegal parking, road obstruction, speeding and impaired driving would be decisively addressed during the period.
To further enhance response capacity, LASTMA disclosed that high-, medium- and low-capacity tow trucks have been strategically deployed across the state, particularly along the Lekki–Ajah corridor, to promptly clear broken-down vehicles and other obstructions.
It also announced the activation of its 24-hour Night Gang Duty to monitor and regulate vehicular movement before, during and after the yuletide season.
The agency appealed to all road users to cooperate fully with traffic officers, obey traffic laws and exercise patience and civic responsibility, noting that collective compliance is crucial to ensuring a smooth, safe and enjoyable festive season for residents and visitors.
Members of the public were encouraged to report traffic-related emergencies through LASTMA’s toll-free hotline: 0800 005 27862.
