The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has announced the commencement of a 24-hour traffic control operation across the state to manage the expected surge in vehicular movement ahead of the festive season.
According to a statement by the agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the initiative tagged “Operation Ember Months Stability” aims to ensure smoother traffic flow, enhance safety, and strengthen enforcement as Lagos braces for its busiest travel period of the year.
Bakare-Oki said personnel have been deployed to major traffic corridors, including Ikorodu Road, Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, Lekki–Epe corridor, and Agege Motor Road.
The operation, he noted, is being coordinated under a broader programme led by Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, and executed through a multi-agency task force involving several state and federal agencies.
“LASTMA, in collaboration with agencies like Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), LAMATA, the Nigeria Police, LAWMA, and the Public Works Corporation, conducted a sweeping clearance exercise at the Apapa, Ijora, and Costain under-bridges,” Bakare-Oki stated.
He said the enforcement drive has already led to the demolition of over 250 shanties and the removal of derelict vehicles and makeshift encampments around key traffic hotspots such as Apapa, Ijora, and Costain, which had become unsafe and impeded traffic movement.
The 24-hour control plan is part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration’s renewed push to maintain order on Lagos roads, especially during the “Ember Months,” when increased commercial and commuter activities typically lead to congestion and safety concerns.
The government has also intensified efforts to remove illegal structures under bridges and curb environmental violations in high-traffic zones, reinforcing its commitment to improving mobility, safety, and urban cleanliness ahead of the festive period.
