LASG prohibits illegal parking for crossover night

The Lagos State Government, through its Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has officially banned all forms of indiscriminate parking and road obstruction as the state prepares for the massive influx of commuters during the upcoming 2025 – 2026 Cross-Over Night celebrations.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA’s Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, the agency revealed a “zero-tolerance” stance against motorists who convert public roads into parking lots or event spaces.

Addressing the expected surge in activities at worship centers, nightclubs, and event venues, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, warned that the agency is ready to enforce traffic laws strictly.

“LASTMA strongly condemns the abuse of public road infrastructure through its conversion into improvised parking spaces or informal event venues, describing such acts as egregious violations of traffic regulations with far-reaching implications for public safety, emergency response, and urban mobility”, Bakare-Oki said.

To manage the “exponential increase” in movements, Bakare-Oki made it known that a specialised enforcement framework has been activated.

This, according to him, includes the recently inaugurated ‘LASTMA 24-Hour Night Gangs’, a dedicated unit of trained officers and surveillance teams tasked with clearing flashpoints across the state.

He emphasised the consequences for those who ignore the directive, stating, “Offenders will be sanctioned in strict compliance with extant traffic laws, without exception.”

The agency further appealed to the leadership of religious institutions and social hubs to take responsibility for their guests’ vehicles, rather than allowing them to spill onto major carriageways.

Bakare-Oki stressed that the success of the night depends on cooperation between the public and enforcement officers.

“Collective compliance remains indispensable to the realisation of a peaceful, orderly, and seamlessly managed crossover night across Lagos State,” he said.

LASTMA urged residents to remain patient and cooperative as the agency works to maintain order.

In the event of traffic-related emergencies, members of the public are advised to contact the LASTMA toll-free hotline at 0800 005 27862 for real-time intervention.