LASTMA Impounds 123 Vehicles, Arrests 19 Hoodlums Over Illegal Activities
IN its continued effort to rid the state of traffic bottleneck, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), yesterday (Tuesday, 5 March 2024) impounded 123 vehicles for parking under bridges.
Also, 19 notorious hoodlums, operating illegal parking lots, and collecting dues from motorists, were arrested during the general enforcement operations.
The suspects, a preliminary investigation conducted by LASTMA revealed, impersonated approved government agents, and flaunted fake identity cards, all in their bid to extort innocent motorists as well as illegal traders who sell by roadsides. 
The General Manager of LASTMA Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who led the combined enforcement team with security personnel, disclosed that the exercise was carried out based on the directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation Hon. Sola Giwa.
Bakare-Oki further disclosed that the Agency swung into action after several warnings issued to both private and commercial bus drivers to stop indiscriminate parking/illegal garages around bridges were not complied with.
He said: “It is nauseating seeing private and commercial bus drivers constituting public nuisance by parking at free will around bridges, thereby causing avoidable gridlock and inconvenience to other motorists and road users using these bridges to link up with other parts of the state.
“We will continue to ensure free flow of traffic by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown on these stubborn private and commercial bus drivers”, Bakare-Oki stated. 
The LASTMA boss, however, disclosed that owners/drivers of the 123 contravened vehicles and the 19 arrested hoodlums would be prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
