The Lagos State government has directed the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to begin to arrest and impound unpainted commercial vehicles from Monday.

The general manager of LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, said this in a statement through the agency’s spokesperson, Toafik Adebayo, in Lagos on Sunday.

Mr Oreagba warned that all commercial bus operators should ensure that their vehicles were painted red or yellow with black stripes or be impounded by the government.

“Officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been directed to impound any commercial bus not painted in the approved Lagos State colour of red or yellow with black stripes,” he said.

He said this was in view of the need to comply with the laws and regulations guiding the operation of all commercial vehicle operators.

Mr Oreagba explained further that the warning was to ensure that commercial bus operators, especially those on intra-state services, comply with the existing laws of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

The LASTMA boss said there was a need for the commercial operators to obey the laws to restore sanity on the roads to protect the lives and property of Lagos residents.

He emphasised that all minibuses known as ‘Danfo’, including ‘Korope’, should be painted in the right colours while mass transit buses with two doors were to be painted with approved red colour by operators.

Mr Oreagba also noted that all buses authorised to ply Victoria Island and its environs with an approved colour should be registered through the various established offices.

The general manager, therefore, urged all commercial bus operators to comply with the warning in their interest.

 “Any vehicle impounded will not be released until the needful is done in accordance with the Law.

“All commercial buses must be duly registered with commercial number plates and hackney permits issued by the appropriate authority in Lagos.

“Also, all approved area shuttle buses must henceforth restrict their operations to their ‘approved’ areas of coverage as anyone caught outside their jurisdiction would be impounded and charged to court accordingly,” Mr Oreagba said.

He also advised all intrastate commercial bus operators to desist from violating traffic rules like illegal parking and loading or discharging passengers at unapproved bus stops.

Mr Oreagba stated that commercial operators should also desist from driving without seat belts, driving on kerbs/medians/walkways, BRT corridors, against traffic, illegal U-turns and obstructions, among others. 

(NAN)