The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has raised concern over the growing number of road traffic crashes in the state after rescuing 353 victims from accidents between January and May 2026.
LASTMA said the figure reflects the scale of emergencies occurring daily across Lagos roads and renewed calls for stricter compliance with traffic regulations.
General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed the figures while reviewing the agency’s emergency response operations and broader road safety efforts across the state.
According to the agency, many of the accidents involved commercial vehicles, articulated trucks and private motorists, with speeding, mechanical faults, dangerous overtaking and disregard for traffic rules identified as recurring causes.
Bakare-Oki said rapid intervention by traffic officers has continued to reduce fatalities and improve survival chances for victims before medical teams arrive.
He said, “These rescue figures reflect not only the scale of traffic emergencies but also our unwavering commitment to preserving lives through prompt intervention.”
The LASTMA boss added that emergency operations were strengthened through coordinated work with other agencies including ambulance services, police officers and rescue personnel deployed to accident scenes across Lagos.
He warned that road safety cannot depend only on enforcement.
“Enforcement alone cannot deliver enduring safety outcomes without the active cooperation of motorists, transport unions, fleet operators and the wider public,” Bakare-Oki said.
The agency also expressed concern over persistent dangerous driving practices, especially one-way driving and the use of poorly maintained vehicles.
Bakare-Oki urged motorists to obey speed limits, ensure vehicle roadworthiness and comply with lawful traffic directives.
He said, “Road safety remains a collective responsibility.”
LASTMA noted that its personnel regularly respond to crash scenes under difficult conditions to rescue victims, clear damaged vehicles and restore traffic flow across major corridors in Lagos.
Comments
Add a comment