LASTMA Warns Lekki And VI Event Centres Ahead Of Detty December

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) is stepping up enforcement as the city braces for the annual influx of events, concerts, and nightlife activities popularly known as Detty December. Determined to prevent the usual festive-season traffic chaos, the agency says it will no longer tolerate event organisers and nightclub owners whose activities obstruct major roads and inconvenience motorists.

According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA will begin sealing off event centres and nightclubs—particularly those in high-traffic zones such as Lekki, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi—if they are found guilty of causing gridlock. He stressed that repeated warnings have gone unheeded by many establishments who continue to permit indiscriminate parking on major roads, leading to severe congestion during peak hours.

To send a strong message, LASTMA recently shut down Vaniti Club House on Adeola Odeku, Victoria Island, after the club was found to have repeatedly encouraged illegal roadside parking by its patrons. The action, officials say, is an example of what other defiant establishments should expect in the coming weeks.

LASTMA’s General Manager, Bakare Oki, has also hinted that this is only the beginning of a far-reaching clampdown. He has instructed all zonal commanders to intensify patrols, particularly on weekends, when traffic in entertainment districts typically spirals out of control. Oki noted that while Lagosians deserve to enjoy the festive season, their enjoyment must not come at the expense of public order, safety, and free movement.

As part of new compliance measures, event organisers have been directed to obtain proper approvals from both LASPA (Lagos State Parking Authority) and LASTMA before hosting events. They are also required to employ trained traffic personnel, create detailed traffic management plans, and ensure adequate parking arrangements that do not spill into public roads.

Authorities maintain that these measures are necessary to prevent the annual breakdown of traffic flow that the city experiences every December. With thousands of visitors expected to arrive for concerts, weddings, shows, and parties, LASTMA insists that Lagos must not descend into avoidable gridlock.

The message is unmistakable as Detty December approaches: if your event obstructs traffic, LASTMA will shut you down—swiftly and decisively.