LASTMA Records 860 Traffic Incidents, 17 Deaths On Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has recorded 860 traffic-related incidents resulting in 17 deaths on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road between January and October 2026, raising concerns over road safety on the major corridor.
The agency also disclosed that 365 traffic incidents, including road crashes and vehicle breakdowns, were recorded along the Otedola Bridge–Kara corridor during the same period, claiming 15 lives.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed the figures on Thursday during a media parley in Lagos, where he highlighted the challenges of traffic management and the need for improved road safety across the state.
Bakare-Oki explained that the agency had evolved beyond its traditional role of traffic control to embrace a broader approach centred on road safety, public engagement and rapid response to traffic incidents.
He, however, expressed concern over the rising frequency of accidents along some major routes in the state, noting that LASTMA was intensifying its traffic advocacy efforts and engaging drivers to promote safer road use.
According to him, Lagos faces significant mobility challenges due to its limited landmass and high concentration of vehicles.
He noted that the state occupies approximately 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s total land area, despite having one of the highest concentrations of vehicles in West Africa.
The LASTMA boss said the agency remained committed to ensuring seamless movement across Lagos despite the pressure on its road infrastructure, adding that particular attention was being given to major crossing points and routes experiencing increased traffic incidents.
On the Otedola Bridge–Kara corridor, he disclosed that the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government had begun a joint assessment of the factors contributing to road damage along the route.
He said the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Gary, recently led a federal government delegation, while the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation led the state’s team to examine the situation and evaluate possible solutions.
Bakare-Oki added that the assessment would not be restricted to the Otedola Bridge corridor, as further arrangements were expected to address other affected routes.
The LASTMA general manager also announced plans to strengthen traffic management operations ahead of the forthcoming Detty December festivities, a period traditionally associated with increased travel and social activities across Lagos.
He identified Victoria Island, Lekki-Ajah, Surulere and Ikeja as key areas where additional personnel would be deployed to ease congestion and improve mobility.
According to him, the agency plans to deploy more than 2,000 personnel across the identified locations to ensure smoother traffic movement throughout the festive period.
He further disclosed that recovery vehicles had been mobilised for deployment at strategic locations to facilitate the prompt removal of broken-down vehicles and improve response times to road crashes and other traffic-related emergencies.
The planned operation, he said, would run round the clock, with personnel working in shifts, including an overnight team scheduled to operate from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Bakare-Oki expressed confidence that the enhanced arrangements would improve traffic management and enable residents and visitors to move more freely during the festive season.
He stressed the importance of protecting human lives, noting that the reported fatalities on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and Otedola Bridge corridor underscored the need for greater caution among motorists and sustained efforts to improve road safety.
