The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 27 vehicles for what it described as grave violations of traffic safety regulations, as part of an intensified crackdown on the widespread and dangerous practice of vehicular overloading.
The agency said the enforcement exercise followed repeated warnings to motorists and was aimed at curbing practices that pose serious risks to road safety across the state.
In a statement issued on Thursday, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said the operation was carried out during an early-morning, coordinated enforcement drive.
“After repeated warnings issued through multiple public sensitisation platforms, the agency impounded twenty-seven (27) commercial and private vehicles found to be in flagrant breach of prescribed loading limits and established safety standards,” Taofiq said.
He explained that the action was necessitated by growing concerns over the escalating dangers posed by overloaded vehicles on major highways and densely trafficked inner-city roads.
According to LASTMA, assessments revealed a disturbing pattern in which motorists—particularly commercial vehicle operators—routinely overload their vehicles with assorted goods, including bulky items and perishable commodities. These items are often crammed into luggage compartments or dangerously mounted on vehicle roofs.
The agency warned that such unsafe practices severely obstruct rear visibility, destabilise vehicles, and significantly impair drivers’ awareness of surrounding traffic—especially during overtaking—thereby increasing the likelihood of avoidable road crashes.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described overloading as a serious violation of Lagos State traffic laws, stressing that it endangers not only vehicle occupants but also other road users.
He further condemned the trend as an “unsightly and perilous spectacle,” noting the frequent sight of commercial buses, private cars, and even articulated vehicles laden with goods and scrap metal in blatant disregard for public safety.
The agency urged motorists to strictly comply with stipulated loading capacities, ensure clear and unobstructed visibility at all times, and prioritise vehicle roadworthiness and safety in their daily operations.
LASTMA reiterated its commitment to sustained enforcement and warned that offenders would continue to face sanctions as the agency works to make Lagos roads safer for all users.
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