The Lagos State Government has announced a fresh clampdown on illegal gates and other unauthorised structures obstructing public roads, giving owners and communities a seven-day ultimatum to remove them as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion during the festive season.
In addition, communities operating gated streets have been directed to keep such gates open daily between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. to ensure free vehicular movement and reduce gridlock on major and alternative routes across the state.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the directive is in line with existing state regulations and the THEMES+ Agenda of the current administration, which prioritises seamless mobility, public safety and ease of doing business.
While acknowledging the security advantages of gated streets, Osiyemi stressed that such measures must not hinder traffic flow, particularly during periods of increased movement such as the Yuletide.
He noted that heightened travel, commercial activities, tourism and entertainment events during the festive period have placed additional pressure on alternative routes, making it necessary to keep all public roads accessible.
“All gates and structures erected on public roads without approval from the Ministry of Transportation must be removed within seven days of this notice to ensure unobstructed movement and the safety of lives and property,” he said.
The commissioner added that enforcement teams would be deployed statewide to ensure compliance, warning that unrestricted access to gated streets would be strictly enforced to prevent avoidable congestion.
Osiyemi reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving mobility and creating a conducive environment for commerce, tourism and travel, assuring residents that measures to enhance traffic flow and quality of life in Lagos would be sustained beyond the festive period.