LASTMA Impounds 27 Buses for Overloading, Safety Violations Across Lagos

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 27 commercial and private vehicles for violating loading regulations and failing to comply with road safety standards across the state.

The impoundment followed a coordinated early-morning enforcement exercise carried out across major roads in Lagos as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to curb vehicular overloading and improve road safety.

LASTMA said the affected vehicles were apprehended after repeated public warnings and sensitisation campaigns failed to deter motorists from engaging in the unsafe practice.

The operation was conducted in line with the directive of the agency’s General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, amid growing concerns over the dangers posed by overloaded vehicles on busy highways and inner-city roads.

According to the agency, field officers observed a disturbing trend in which many motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, overloaded their vehicles with goods such as bulky items and perishable commodities.

These items were often crammed into luggage compartments or mounted on vehicle roofs in ways that obstructed rear visibility and compromised vehicle stability.

LASTMA warned that such practices significantly impair drivers’ awareness of surrounding traffic, especially during overtaking, thereby increasing the risk of avoidable road accidents.

Speaking on the development, Bakare-Oki described vehicular overloading as a serious breach of traffic regulations and a major threat to public safety.

He condemned what he called the “unsightly and dangerous” practice of overloading buses, private cars and articulated vehicles with goods and scrap materials, noting that it endangers both occupants and other road users.

He reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance policy toward traffic violations that threaten lives and property, stressing that enforcement actions against offenders would remain continuous and uncompromising.

The agency advised motorists to strictly adhere to approved loading limits, ensure unobstructed visibility and prioritise vehicle roadworthiness at all times.

LASTMA also urged members of the public to report vehicles found violating loading regulations through its toll-free hotline, 0800-005-27862, to enable prompt enforcement and corrective action.

The authority reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing traffic laws professionally and impartially in support of the Lagos State Government’s drive for a safer, more orderly and efficient transportation system.