The Lagos State Government has announced a fresh crackdown on event centres and social venues that encroach on public roads, warning that violators will face strict penalties for obstructing traffic and endangering public safety.
This warning comes in the wake of increasing complaints over traffic congestion caused by events spilling into public streets, especially during weekends. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), issued the caution on Sunday after conducting several spot checks in high-traffic areas across the city.
“Traffic gridlocks arising from unregulated social activities constitute an egregious affront to collective wellbeing and a needless impediment to the city’s economic momentum,” Bakare-Oki said. “It is both necessary and urgent to reassert, in categorical terms, that no individual, corporate body, or event organiser, regardless of stature or affiliation, has the prerogative to appropriate public roadways as extensions of their private ventures.”
According to Bakare-Oki, the state government has observed a growing pattern where event planners, including those hosting lavish weddings, concerts, and private parties, use adjoining streets and road shoulders as makeshift parking lots, often without proper clearance or regard for the impact on road users.
He emphasized that such practices have led to serious challenges for emergency responders such as ambulances and fire services, who are sometimes unable to navigate gridlocked areas during critical situations.
“The situation is unacceptable,” he stated. “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has zero tolerance for lawlessness and is committed to fairness and order on Lagos roads. All venues found to be violating public access regulations will face appropriate sanctions, including fines, closure, or legal proceedings.”
The enforcement drive is part of a broader effort by the state government to combat chronic traffic gridlock in Lagos, which remains one of Africa’s most congested cities. With a population exceeding 20 million and thousands of vehicles navigating its roads daily, Lagos has long struggled with traffic bottlenecks, particularly during social events in upscale areas with limited parking infrastructure.
Bakare-Oki encouraged citizens to report traffic obstructions caused by social events, noting that LASTMA had already impounded thousands of vehicles in recent months for similar violations.
The move signals a clear message to property owners and event organisers: public infrastructure cannot be compromised for private convenience. The Lagos State Government says it will continue to monitor high-risk areas and take proactive measures to keep the city moving.
