ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

AND CURBING CRIMES IN LAGOS STATE: THE

RESPONSIBLITIES OF THE LAGOS STATE
POLICE COMMAND
BY CP HAKEEM OLUSEGUN ODUMOSU, psc,
DATED TUESDAY 17TH NOVEMBRE, 2020

PROTOCOLS:
INTRODUCTION
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the
Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos
State. Today, the command has deemed it fit to express its
concern on the high level of violation of traffic regulations in
Lagos State; and the statutory roles of the Police in the
enforcement of the traffic regulations and crime control as
required.
It is not out of point to state that the aftermath of the #Endsars
violence in the state has, to an extent, encouraged lawlessness,
gross violation and disregard to traffic rules across the state.
This has been so worrisome due to the upsurge in road crashes
and accidents that have claimed many lives, rendered many
injured and properties destroyed in the state.
The Police Command has also observed that the violation of
traffic rules by both private and public owners of vehicles,
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motorcycles and tricycles has been detrimental and inimical to
social and economic development and general security of the
state. These are not acceptable any longer.
The Command wishes to reiterate and remind the general
public of the major traffic regulations, as contained in the
Transport Sector Law of Lagos State (2018) which will be
religiously enforced by the command in conjunction with other
security agencies, as stated below.
1. Driving in a direction prohibited by the law/neglect of
traffic directions, that is ‘One Way’, attracts forfeiture of
vehicle to the state government, under Part 111, item 27
of the Transport Sector Law of Lagos State (2018).
2. Use of BRT lite Corridor attracts a fine of #20,000
(Twenty Thousand naira only) for first offender, under
Part 111, item 45 and 46 of the Transport Sector Law of
Lagos State (2018)
3. Wilful obstruction on highway attracts a fine of #50,000
(Fifty Thousand Naira only) in addition to cost of towing.
4. Illegal U-Turn attracts a fine of #20,000 (Twenty
Thousand Naira only) for first offender.
Permit me to clearly state, at this juncture, that in addition to
the few above-stated traffic offences, the Police Command shall
fully enforce every provision of the Transport Sector Law of
Lagos State (2018).

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 In the light of the above, the command, so far, has contravened
the followings between Thursday 12th and Monday 16th
November, 2020.
VEHICLES VEHICLES VEHICLES MOTORCYCLES NO OF
CONTRAVENED CONTRAVENED CONTRAVENE CONTRAVENED VEHICLES
FOR ONE WAY FOR PLYING D FOR FOR ONE WAY FORFEITED
BRT LANE OBSTRUCTION AND PLYING TO
BRT LANE GOVERNME
NT
Private 132 Private 168 Private 2
Commercial 46 Commercial 06 Commercial
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Total: 178 Total: 174 Total 5 Total: 480 Total: 42
Grand Total: 357

In order to further enforce compliance with the traffic rules,

Special Anti One Way Taskforce has been established at each
Area Command which comprises Police, LASTMA and Federal
Road Safety Corps. Similarly, Special unit on Anti One Way
has been established with Lagos State Taskforce and the
Government Monitoring Team (GMT). They are all being
empowered and directed to fully go after One Way vehicular
traffic and okada violators. They are being accompanied by
Mobile Court for instant trail and media teams for coverage
and exposure of One Way violators to the world.
As it was done last ember months, the command is mobilising
and deploying one thousand (1000) personnel for traffic control
and enforcement.

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On this note, the command wishes to warn the general public
that henceforth, any vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles plying
on BRT lanes and/or driving on “One Way” will be impounded
and forfeited to the government respectively while the owners
will be charged to court. Equally, those who are in the habit of
repairing their faulty vehicles on the road/spots where they get
spoilt and create avoidable traffic obstruction must desist from
this as full wrath of the law will henceforth be applied
In addition, it’s criminal for anyone to cover his number plates
on his vehicle and use siren. This is not only against traffic
regulation but also criminal. Same goes to the use of siren. The
command will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any violators
accordingly.
In another development, the command has re-launched its
strategies to fight crimes and criminality across the state and
bring to book the hoodlums that hijacked the EndSARS protest
in the state. Most of the hoodlums were highly suspected to
have been responsible for killing, burning both public and
private facilities including police stations, stealing and looting
shopping outlets as most of their faces were identified in the
videos of the atrocities. On 15th November, 2020, the command
commenced raiding of identified black spots in all the fourteen
(14) Area Commands in Lagos State where seven hundred and
ninety eight (798) suspects were arrested. The incriminating
items recovered from the suspects included locally-made guns
and life cartridges, substances suspected to be cocaine, weeds
suspected to be Indian hemp and some items looted from the
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Ajah Area Command and stations that were burnt by hoodlums
during the recent EndSARS violence in Lagos State. The
suspects have been handed over to the State CID, Panti, for
further investigation and possible prosecution.
It will be recalled that on 27th October, 2020, the command
addressed the press and paraded five hundred and sixty (560)
suspects arrested in connection with murder, arson, house
breaking and stealing and looting cases recorded during the
EndSARS violence in the state. So far, Four Hundred and
thirty five (435) of them were prosecuted, forty three (43) are
still under investigation while eighty two were screened out.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is high time we started restoring
sanity to the system of Lagos State and maintain law and order.
The Police Command will not condone any act of lawlessness
or criminality that is capable of crippling social and economic
activities and general security of the state. While we urge the
general public to respect the law and accord necessary
cooperation to the police, the command will leave no stone
unturned to provide adequate security for all and sundry in
Lagos State, particular during and beyond the yuletide season.
Be assured, police are back on the road. We have, prior to
EndSARS protest, boldly taken over our constitutional
responsibilities of protecting lives and properties.
Thank you for your attention.