Tension As Soldiers, LASTMA Clash Over Road Closure In Lagos

There was pandemonium in Lagos over the unannounced closure of Adeniji to Falomo Road by military personnel and the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The clash, it was gathered, occurred after the military, deployed by the Federal Controller of Works for Lagos, Olukorede Keisha, attempted to enforce the road closure for repairs.
During the incident, LASTMA officials resisted the closure, arguing that “there must be prior notice according to the rule of engagement” for the Lagos Ministry of Transportation to communicate such developments to the public. This includes making a formal announcement and issuing a travel advisory to motorists.
The clash, which began around midnight on Saturday, led LASTMA personnel to call for backup from the state’s taskforce. In response, Wale Musa, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, confirmed the situation and assured that efforts were underway to resolve it.
 “The General Manager of LASTMA has informed us at the ministry of the situation. The Honourable Commissioner, the Special Adviser, and I are working to resolve the matter amicably,” Musa stated.
Later, Musa added, “The Honourable Commissioner, Special Adviser, and I have intervened with the Federal Controller of Works. We have resolved the issue with the understanding that such problems should not recur, and that prior information must be given well ahead of any road closure.”
LASTMA official Omoyeni Oladele emphasized the impact of the unannounced closure: “If the road is closed without prior announcement by the state, motorists will face severe hardship.”
A senior officer at the Lagos Ministry of Works, speaking on condition of anonymity, commented, “This is not the first time the Federal Controller of Works has used the military for enforcement. The conflict arose from attempting to close a section of the road without proper public notification. LASTMA officials insist that the road cannot be closed without sufficient notice, which led to the deployment of soldiers by the controller. The situation could have escalated if the military personnel had not exercised restraint.”

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