The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has declared one person dead and eight others injured in an accident that occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge on Monday.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq gave the details of the fatal accident in a statement on X.

“A tragic and fatal head-on collision involving two Mazda commercial buses (LND 624 YE / EKY 804 YH) occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge, near Ilaje, en route to Iyana-Oworonsoki, resulting in one fatality and leaving eight others grievously injured,” Taofiq said.

“The harrowing incident, which unfolded as both buses recklessly engaged in a high-speed chase from Adeniji Adele serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of irresponsible driving practices.

“Swift intervention by LASTMA facilitated the rapid rescue of eight passengers, all of whom suffered severe fractures. The injured were immediately transported to Gbagada General Hospital for urgent medical care, courtesy of the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).

“Police units from Bariga and Alonge Police Stations were instrumental in providing critical security support during the rescue operation, ensuring order and expediting the efforts to restore normalcy.”

LASTMA has reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring road safety and implored all motorists to strictly observe speed regulations and exercise caution while driving.

The agency has also extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of the bereaved and wished the injured a swift and full recovery.

In a related development, another accident occurred earlier on Monday involving a Honda CRV (AKD 743 HV) which overturned on the Third Mainland Bridge near the Unilag waterfront, also inbound Iyana-Oworonsoki.

The crash, attributed to excessive speeding, resulted in no casualties. LASTMA personnel acted swiftly to clear the wreckage, preventing any further obstruction to the free flow of traffic on the bridge.

The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested 54 persons over illegal ticketing and extortion activities targeting trucks and commercial vehicles coming into the state.

The Director, Press & Public Affairs, Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem in a statement said these arrests were made in key areas including Isolo, Mushin, Apapa, Mile 2, and the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

Abdulraheem said the suspects specialise in waylaying trucks loaded with goods and imposing unlawful fines on them.

He explained that they have through their activities plagued truck operators for some time and contributed negatively to delays and disruptions in the smooth flow of goods and services in and out of Lagos State.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele spoke on the arrests, stating that these enforcement exercises are part of the agency’s mandate to end such unlawful practices.

“This illegal ticketing system has been operating for far too long. We are committed to arresting and prosecuting anyone who imposes unjustified fines on trucks and commercial vehicles. These practices are not only illegal but also detrimental to the state’s economy,” Akerele said.

“The ongoing operation is part of a wider effort by the taskforce to restore law and order across Lagos, ensuring that businesses can operate without the threat of extortion by touts and other illegal actors.

“It is part of our statutory responsibilities to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in the illegal issuance of fines/tickets within the Metropolis therefore we will ensure that anyone involved in this illicit practice is brought to book.”

The Lagos State Taskforce Chairman has urged residents and business owners to report any suspicious activities to the Agency.

Akerele has also assured the public that further arrests would be made to curb this widespread menace, adding that the 54 arrested suspects will be charged to court immediately.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has begun an intensive 3-day In-house training programme for its senior officers.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq in a statement on Monday said the training is meticulously crafted to enhance the operational efficacy and service delivery standards of its senior officers.

Taofiq said the initiative was ceremoniously launched today at the LASTMA Headquarters by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa.

He said the training will delve into a broad array of critical topics including: Diplomatic Enforcement: Strategies for executing effective traffic management while maintaining constructive public relations.

Other topics are Stress Management and Wellness: Advanced techniques for preserving mental and physical well-being in high-pressure scenarios as well as Ethical and Professional Excellence: Upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in traffic operations.

Also included for discussion are Collaborative Team Synergy: Building cohesive teams to optimize productivity and elevate service quality as well as Elevated Communication Techniques: Mastering communication for clarity, precision, and maximum impact.

The final topic for discussion is Emotional Intelligence and Empathy: Cultivating emotional intelligence to adeptly navigate conflicts and foster positive public engagement.

Taofiq said Navy Captain Akinyemi Samuel, a distinguished authority in stress management is leading the session on Stress Management and Wellness, imparting actionable strategy to help participants manage stress and maintain peak effectiveness.

“This training underscores LASTMA’s unwavering commitment to continuous capacity enhancement and operational excellence, ensuring that senior officers are well-armed with the necessary skills and insights to excel in their respective roles,” Taofiq said.

Since the beginning of the year, LASTMA has prioritized the training and retraining of its personnel with over 3,000 officers having already undergone specialized instruction in various aspects of traffic management.

“The Lagos State Government places immense emphasis on the professional development of its workforce and ensuring the delivery of exceptional services to the motoring public, particularly motorists across the state,” affirmed Hon. Giwa.

 The  Zamfara government has confirmed the deaths of 40 people following a boat mishap in the Gummi Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a boat carrying more than 40 persons on Sunday capsized in the Bakin Kasuwa River of Uban Dawaki community.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, who confirmed the incident, said the governor described the incident as a monumental disaster.

“We received the tragic report of a boat accident in Bakin Kasuwa River in Uban Dawaki ward, Gummi Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of over 40 lives.

“The governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to embark on immediate rescue and recovery of the dead bodies.

“The governor also directed the agency to take immediate action to assess the extent of the accident and provide urgent assistance,” the statement said.

It added that the governor also directed the  Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters to provide immediate relief materials to the victims and their families.

“Governor Lawal also prays for the souls of the departed victims, grieved with their families, and assured of the state government’s commitment to prevent such occurrence in the future,” Idris said.

NAN recalls that a flood disaster recently destroyed over 2000 houses, several farmlands and farm produce valued at millions of naira in the same LGA.

The Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat has revealed that Lagos State moved 53 million Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) passengers from 2019 to 2024.

Gawat made this disclosure in a post he shared on his verified X account on Sunday evening.

“The first set of BRT buses landed in 2007 towards the end of Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor, by this time, the lanes were already being drawn across the state, Lagosians know this,” he wrote.

“Secondly, the BRT scheme was supposed to start by November 2007 but was later done in March 2008, It started with 100 buses.

“Over the years, we have replaced, changed and discarded some, As at today, we have about 800 buses at the moment and between 2019 and 2024, We have moved up to 53 million passengers.”

The Lagos State Government over the weekend warned developers and builders to desist from wetland encroachment after sealing off a private estate being developed on a wetland in Gbagada.

The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab made this call during an interview with newsmen after an inspection tour to some enforcement and on going project sites.

Wahab during the inspection tour said that the state is determined to put a stop to the growing challenge of wetland encroachment.

“Wetlands are natural habitations whose value cannot be replaced by money, as such, it is essential to do more to preserve nature and protect the wetlands from further encroachment as it is recently being experienced in most parts of the state,” he said.

Accompanied by the Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Permanent Secretaries, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji and Drainage Services, Engr Mahamood Adegbite and directors in the Ministry, the team visited TREM drainage channel located at Anthony Oke, Oshodi Expressway.

The inspection team observed that the wetland in the areas have been encroached upon and the major portion of the drainage channel blocked with a major private estate being developed on the location.

Wahab directed the immediate sealing up of a proposed private estate site named Maverick Estate which is still at the inception stage, ordering all construction workers to leave the site immediately.

The commissioner ordered that the fences of the proposed Estate on the wetland be pulled down.

He urged the developer of Maverick Estate to come forward with the appropriate Land approval, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Drainage approval amongst other documents.

Wahab emphasized that several of the wetlands across the state such as places like iju, Ejigbo, Badagry, Ikorodu, Itoikin and many more which have being encroached upon for estate development without due consideration for environmental guidelines would be reclaimed by the government as time goes on.

The team also visited System 1 drainage channel which is the most critical because it defloods Odo Iya Alaro, Ojota, Ogudu, Maryland amongst others to check the extent of the ongoing project awarded by the state two years ago in order to establish the Right of Way and address major flooding issues on the mainland.

The commissioner reiterated that global warming is real as exemplified by the flooding incidents being experienced in the North East and West especially in Borno State in the last few days.

Wahab urged residents to collaborate with the Lagos Government to sustain the restoration of drainage Right of Way and wetlands in the state.

According to him, the world has changed and everyone must put in place various measures to mitigate the adverse effects of global warming and other environmental issues confronting human existence.

The team visited System 1 (Sheraton – Ojota link bridge section); Peace Estate, Ifako (System 1 mainstream) and TREM drainage channel (discharges into Anthony Oke Channel) Oshodi Expressway.