LASTMA to impound unpainted commercial buses from today

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority will impound unpainted commercial vehicles from Monday across the state.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, said this in a statement by the Director, of the Public Affairs Unit of the authority, Mr Toafik Adebayo.

Oreagba warned that all intra-state commercial bus operators should ensure that their vehicles were painted Red or Yellow with Black Stripes or be impounded by the government.

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

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

The LASTMA boss said, “There is a need for the commercial operators to obey the laws in order to restore sanity on the roads to protect the lives and property of Lagos residents.

“All mini-buses known as ‘Danfo’, including ‘Korope’, should be painted in yellow with black stripes, while mass transit buses with two doors were to be painted with approved Red Colour by operators.”

Oreagba also noted that all buses that had been 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 own interest.

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

“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 arrested and buses impounded and charged to court accordingly,” Oreagba said.

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