Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of officers from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit, also known as the Task Force, from all traffic control and traffic contravention enforcement duties across the state. The directive, issued on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, aims to clarify the roles of enforcement agencies in Lagos and reduce friction between officers and the public.
The withdrawal follows complaints from motorists, commuters, civil society groups, and legal practitioners about the Task Force’s involvement in traffic regulation, which is primarily the responsibility of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority. The police stressed that the Task Force’s core mandate remains environmental sanitation and enforcement of laws relating to public safety and special offences, not traffic management.
Commissioner Fatai explained that the reallocation of duties is intended to streamline enforcement operations and eliminate overlaps that have sometimes caused confusion and tension on Lagos roads. Lagos, Africa’s most populous city, experiences heavy vehicular traffic daily, making clear role definitions among enforcement agencies essential.
Previously, the Task Force had been deployed at major junctions and traffic hotspots to address unlawful parking, road obstruction, indiscriminate dumping, and other urban offences. However, their involvement in traffic enforcement became controversial, with some motorists accusing officers of overstepping their jurisdiction and applying inconsistent enforcement practices that occasionally led to confrontations.
The withdrawal also responds to feedback from road safety stakeholders and partner agencies, who called for more coordinated and legally aligned enforcement. Under Nigerian law, traffic regulation is the statutory responsibility of the Federal Road Safety Corps, supported by state traffic authorities where authorized.
Transport unions and commuter associations welcomed the police directive, describing it as a step toward reducing harassment and unnecessary stops for road users. Many believe that a clearer delineation of responsibilities will improve traffic flow and foster cooperation among agencies, while also addressing concerns of extortion or arbitrary enforcement.
Civil society advocates highlighted that the Task Force plays an important role in maintaining environmental and public order, but its traffic duties stretched its mandate beyond intended limits. They welcomed the move as reinforcing the need for public education on agency roles and better inter-agency coordination in Lagos, where multiple enforcement bodies operate simultaneously.
State and local government officials have been urged to work closely with the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority to ensure uniform and effective traffic management strategies, especially as the city continues to grow and develop its infrastructure.
As the Task Force returns to its core functions, the Lagos State Police Command assured residents that traffic control and contravention enforcement will remain a priority under the appropriate agencies, with improved cooperation and intelligence sharing to enhance compliance with traffic laws.
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