LASTMA impounds 7,000 vehicles, sanctions 18 erring officers

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has punished 18 erring officers and arrested over 7,000 vehicles through physical enforcement in the first six months of 2025.

The authority also arrested the vehicles for various traffic offences.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday.

Oki added that LASTMA captured over 54,000 vehicles through the usage of technology, Traffic Management Solutions.

“Over 1,000 vehicles were removed from the road, and over 700 road traffic crashes occurred.

“The usage of technology for enforcement is part of the initiative I brought in when I became the general manager, and this has helped the authority tremendously,” he said.

He said to ensure optimal service delivery, the authority prioritised training and re-orientation of its officers.

“We have a year-long programme, starting from January to December 2025, in which our men are being trained both internally and externally. Internal training is done every week.

“We ensure we pull men from the field, engage them and bring highly resourceful personnel, senior officers in the agency and some from the state public service to come and talk to these men.

“Training has been given on emotional intelligence, enforcement without aggression, mental health and prioritising healthcare.

“Training was also given on advanced traffic management because that is where the agency is tilting towards,” he said.

Speaking on the erring officers, Bakare-Oki said they breached laid-down rules and regulations and were sanctioned accordingly, adding that due process was followed in the process.

He said the officers were disciplined according to the Lagos State Public Service Rule.

“The sanctions have been determined, and they ranged from dismissal and demotion to giving of warning letters,” he said.

The general manager also said the authority had embarked on monthly traffic enlightenment and introduced the Female Elite Corps and the LASTMA Mayor, all in a bid to sensitise Lagos residents to adherence to traffic rules.