LASTMA Clamps Down on Overloading, Seizes 27 Buses

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 27 commercial buses and other vehicles during an early-morning enforcement operation targeting overloading violations across the state.

The coordinated exercise follows repeated public warnings from the agency about the growing safety hazards caused by overloaded vehicles on Lagos roads. According to LASTMA, the initiative is part of a broader statewide campaign to improve road safety and enforce compliance with traffic regulations.

Acting on the directive of General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki, enforcement teams discovered a troubling trend among motorists—particularly commercial drivers—who were loading their vehicles with excessive cargo, including bulky items and perishable goods crammed into luggage compartments or dangerously stacked on rooftops.

LASTMA spokesperson Taofik Adebayo explained the safety implications: “These unsafe practices severely obstruct rear visibility, destabilize vehicle balance, and significantly reduce drivers’ awareness of surrounding traffic, especially during overtaking. This dramatically increases the risk of preventable accidents.”

Bakare-Oki condemned the practice as both illegal and life-threatening, noting that overloading endangers not only vehicle occupants but all road users. He described the sight of overloaded commercial buses, private cars, and trucks piled high with goods and scrap metal as both disturbing and reckless.

The LASTMA boss reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance policy toward traffic violations that compromise public safety, warning that enforcement will continue and intensify. He urged all motorists to observe loading limits, ensure clear visibility while driving, and prioritize vehicle safety and roadworthiness.