Cross-Over Night: LASTMA warns Lagos residents against illegal parking, road blockages
As Lagos residents prepare for cross-over night celebrations, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has issued a statewide warning against indiscriminate parking and the obstruction of access routes around worship centres, markets, nightclubs, event venues and other major gathering points.
Bakare-Oki noted that cross-over night usually witnesses a sharp rise in vehicular and pedestrian movements, worsened by carnivals, street parties and spontaneous celebrations. While acknowledging the social and cultural importance of these activities, he condemned the abuse of public roads as makeshift parking spaces or informal event venues.
He described such practices as serious violations of traffic regulations, warning that they pose risks to public safety, emergency response and smooth urban mobility across the state.
The LASTMA boss therefore cautioned motorists against abandoning vehicles on carriageways, road shoulders, medians, pedestrian walkways and critical access corridors leading to social and religious centres.
He also warned organisers and participants of carnivals, street jams and festive gatherings against blocking highways or inner roads without proper authorisation and coordination with relevant government agencies.
Bakare-Oki disclosed that LASTMA has activated a reinforced traffic management and enforcement framework for cross-over night, with trained officers, rapid response units and surveillance teams deployed across identified flashpoints under the agency’s 24-hour Night Gangs initiative.
He stressed that traffic laws would be strictly enforced and that offenders would be sanctioned without exception, adding that the measures are aimed at ensuring seamless vehicular movement throughout the celebrations.
The General Manager urged religious institutions, market leaders, club operators and event organisers to make adequate parking arrangements and engage traffic authorities proactively, while calling on residents to cooperate with traffic officials, obey directives and remain patient as Lagos ushers in the new year.
