Lagos Residents Demand Enforcement On Highway Crossing To Curb Deaths

BY SAMUEL TYOTSUA & MUIZ ADESHINA, Lagos

Following the revelation that at least 69 people died and 246 others were injured in road crashes across Lagos State between January and March 2026, residents of the state have stressed the urgent need to combine public education and enforcement with practical measures to curb deaths from crossing of busy highways by pedestrians.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) had earlier revealed that over 1,006 road crashes, 87 deaths and 666 injuries were recorded across the state between January and September 2025.

LEADERSHIP Sunday checks on activities of pedestrians around Ojota, Maryland, Ladipo and Ile-Epo raises further questions about how road users navigate busy roads.

Our correspondents observed that many pedestrians abandoned the pedestrian bridges provided by the government in those locations to cross busy highways.

A pedestrian, Mariam Okafor, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that some people cross busy highways instead of using available pedestrian bridges because they believe walking directly across the road would help them reach their destinations more quickly.

She warned that the decision could endanger not only the pedestrians involved but also other road users who might be caught up in an accident despite having no role in causing it, saying the government must enforce its law banning crossing of highways where pedestrian bridges are provided.

Okafor also expressed concern about children who imitate adults crossing busy roads rather than using designated pedestrian facilities. She called on parents to teach children appropriate road-safety practices and urged the government to provide necessary support and facilities for traffic management and road-safety personnel.

Another pedestrian, Abiodun Tunji, said he had witnessed dangerous situations on highways and expressed concern about people who disregard available safety measures.

Tunji argued that pedestrian bridges were provided to protect lives and that people should use them where they are available and accessible. He acknowledged the efforts of government and traffic enforcement personnel but called for stronger enforcement to discourage unsafe crossing practices.

He also recognised that responsibility for road safety cannot rest on pedestrians alone, noting that authorities must address locations where crossing facilities are absent, inadequate or difficult to access.

The concerns are not limited to the locations visited for this report.

Meanwhile, the residents lamented distance to some bridges, difficult stairs, poor lighting and security concerns, saying encouraging bridge use may require not only enforcement but also attention to the accessibility, maintenance and security of the facilities.

Speaking on the causes of road crashes and other carnages resulting from careless crossing of the highway by pedestrian ,a Senior Law Enforcement Traffic Superintendent with LASTMA, Idowu Oluwatoyin,  identified bad road surfaces, potholes, refuse dumped on roads, reckless driving, impatience among motorists and faulty vehicles, including brake failure, as major risks.

She explained that dangerous road conditions can worsen the risks faced by motorists and pedestrians, and disobedience to traffic regulations and resistance to enforcement can complicate efforts to prevent crashes and manage their aftermath.

Oluwatoyin said LASTMA submits monthly photographic reports on failed portions of roads to the Ministry of Transportation, which liaises with the Ministry of Public Works for palliative work or reconstruction. She said the agency also deploys rescue teams around the clock to assist accident victims and remove abandoned or damaged vehicles that obstruct traffic.

According to her, LASTMA personnel also alert motorists to dangerous road sections, sensitise road users and apprehend drivers who travel against the direction of traffic.

She identified the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway as a high-risk corridor because of the heavy volume of vehicles using the route. She said the agency diverts traffic when crashes occur and works with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency to restore traffic flow and support emergency response.

Oluwatoyin, who noted that enforcement work is not without challenges, identified resistance to arrest, abusive language, disobedience to officers’ instructions and, in some cases, physical assault of personnel as difficulties confronting traffic managers.

According to her, vehicle breakdowns, road repairs and construction-related congestion can also increase frustration among road users and make traffic management more difficult.

She explained that vehicles apprehended for traffic offences are taken to a LASTMA zonal yard, where a General Duty Officer attends to the driver and applies the appropriate penalty based on the offence.

She called for regular public enlightenment, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, responsible conduct by commercial transport operators, disciplined motorists, improved road maintenance and driver training.