By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Lagos
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has launched a major cleanup operation across Lagos Island, dismantling illegal parks and garages responsible for persistent gridlocks in the area.
During the exercise, 155 vehicles, including tricycles and heavy-duty trucks, were impounded for operating unauthorized garages and obstructing traffic flow.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, who supervised the operation, said it was part of the government’s broader strategy to restore metropolitan order and ensure free vehicular movement across the city.
He said the targeted enforcement covered unlawful garages, roadside shanties, and informal trading points that had turned into hubs of congestion, environmental degradation, and insecurity.
Giwa said the clampdown aligns with the state’s 24-hour traffic management mandate under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration and forms part of efforts to maintain sanity before, during, and after the festive season.
“Illegal garages, unregulated markets, and roadside shanties have persistently undermined our collective aspiration for a smooth and orderly traffic system in Lagos,” he said. “These impoundments send a strong message that the state government will no longer condone activities that disrupt public order or endanger lives.”
The enforcement covered major trouble spots, including Ebute-Ero, Oke-Arin Market, Odofin Street, Elegbata, and Marina (Oando Under Bridge), all identified as chronic traffic choke points.
Giwa emphasized that the campaign aims to create a safe, habitable, and orderly urban environment for both motorists and pedestrians while reinforcing discipline across transportation corridors.
Residents and business owners in affected areas praised the initiative, describing it as a timely step to restore sanity, enhance safety, and improve the aesthetics of Lagos Island.