Emmanuel Ikpeama
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has intensified its traffic advocacy and public enlightenment campaign with a strategic engagement with transportation unions and other stakeholders operating across the Ikeja axis of Lagos.
The initiative is aimed at promoting voluntary compliance, responsible road use and smoother traffic management, as the Agency continues to complement enforcement with sustained advocacy, consultation and grassroots sensitisation.
During the engagement, LASTMA officials interacted with leaders and members of various transportation unions, educating them on the need to obey traffic regulations, maintain disciplined driving practices and observe proper loading and off-loading procedures.
The Agency also urged commercial drivers to avoid indiscriminate parking, illegal U-turns, reckless overtaking, obstruction of traffic lanes, unauthorised passenger loading and off-loading, driving against traffic and other practices capable of causing congestion or putting road users at risk.
LASTMA stressed that transportation operators have an important role to play in maintaining order and safety on Lagos roads, noting that their daily activities have a direct impact on traffic flow and the overall mobility experience of Lagosians.
The engagement also allowed union leaders to highlight some of the operational challenges confronting their members, while LASTMA officers provided clarifications on traffic regulations, enforcement procedures and appropriate channels for addressing traffic-related concerns.
Speaking on the initiative, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said sustainable traffic management could not be achieved through enforcement alone, stressing the importance of continuous enlightenment, consultation and collaboration with transport stakeholders.
Bakare-Oki described transportation unions as strategic partners in the Agency’s efforts to improve traffic discipline across Lagos and urged them to intensify sensitisation among their members.
He said LASTMA’s objective was not simply to enforce traffic laws but to promote understanding, responsibility and voluntary compliance among road users.
According to him, commercial drivers and other transport operators must recognise that their conduct has significant implications for road safety, traffic flow and the convenience of millions of Lagos residents.
The LASTMA boss further urged union leaders to ensure that every driver under their associations understands the consequences of traffic violations and the wider effects of road indiscipline.
The Agency appealed to motorists, transport operators and other road users to regard traffic regulations as essential measures designed to protect lives, prevent avoidable crashes and ensure the free movement of people and goods across Lagos.
