LASTMA impounds 9,370 vehicles over traffic offences in six months
Tragedy struck in the early hours of yesterday after a loaded container fell off a truck and killed a female motorcyclist in the Iganmu area of Lagos State.
Though the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained, The Guardian learnt that the victim was a naval officer. It was gathered that officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who arrived at the scene alongside other rescue workers, were able to pull out the remains of the deceased.
Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the incident, blamed it on brake failure, adding that the truck driver took to his heels upon learning of the gravity of the mishap.
He said: “Early this morning, LASTMA operatives and other emergency responders recovered the body of a female motorcyclist trapped under a loaded containerised truck in Lagos.”
Also, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, confirmed that the accident occurred at about 6:15 a.m., at Sifax, inward Iganmu Bridge, Lagos.
Giwa stated that the driver of a loaded containerised truck lost control while in motion and the truck fell on a female motorcyclist while descending Iganmu Bridge. He said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck driver, who was speeding, lost control and caused the truck to fall on the deceased.
“The driver fled the scene upon realising the severity of the accident. Immediately after the accident, LASTMA personnel called other emergency responders, including the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) for a rescue operation.”
Giwa added that the deceased’s body was taken away by personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), and the containerised truck was evacuated to clear the way for free vehicular movement. He stressed that police officers from Ijora Badia provided security during the operation.
While expressing his condolences to the family of the deceased, Giwa warned truck drivers to adhere to speed limits both within and outside the state. He also advised motorcycle operators, both commercial and private to obey traffic rules and regulations as stipulated in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
MEANWHILE, LASTMA impounded 9,370 vehicles from January to June 2024 over alleged traffic violations. The General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed this figure during a meeting with relevant stakeholders in the transportation industry.
Bakare-Oki disclosed that 3,034 private vehicles were impounded, including 1,849 cars, 549 buses, and 636 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), among others.
According to him, “256 casualties were recorded during this period. He urged motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations and respect traffic managers. He said: “In the last six months, it has been a mix of good, bad, and ugly, but we have managed to overcome many challenges, particularly in training and retraining of our personnel.
“We have successfully trained 2,000 of our staff, both internally and externally. Over 900 personnel were trained externally, in collaboration with the training department of the Nigeria Police, Lagos Command.
“Additionally, more than 1,200 traffic officers received training from three different consultants on leadership skills, emotional intelligence, customer care, and incident management.
“We are undertaking these initiatives to improve our service delivery to Lagos residents. LASTMA aims to rebuild confidence, particularly in public relations.”
Regarding enforcement, the General Manager highlighted that LASTMA began by clearing the Apapa Port area, conducting several operations to remove trucks and tankers parked indiscriminately along the route.
He added that LASTMA was taking necessary measures to enhance traffic management in the state, including the deployment of over 2,000 traffic equipment.