Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday dispersed a protest by Korope minibus operators who blocked sections of the Lekki–Epe Expressway over restrictions on their operations along the corridor.
The demonstration caused heavy gridlock and left many commuters stranded before police officers fired tear gas to clear the road and restore traffic flow.
Speaking after supervising the reopening of the highway, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, said minibuses and motorcycles are prohibited from operating on the expressway under existing traffic regulations. He added that intelligence reports indicated the protest had been infiltrated by hoodlums, leading to the arrest of several suspects for disrupting movement.
Jimoh warned that the police would not tolerate actions capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the state.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation criticised the protest, which disrupted traffic around the Ajah axis of the highway. In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the Lekki–Epe corridor has been reclassified as a Mass Transit and Regulated Transport Corridor under the state’s Bus Reform Initiative.
Giwa explained that the policy followed extensive planning and data-driven assessments to improve safety and efficiency. He noted that enforcement against unregulated Korope operations was preceded by consultations with transport unions, sensitisation campaigns, and public notices.
Expressing concern that some operators ignored the new framework and obstructed a major economic route, Giwa cautioned that unregulated activities could undermine traffic management standards and reverse gains from ongoing reforms. He commended the Nigeria Police Force for its swift response and assured residents that patrols along the expressway would be intensified to prevent a recurrence.