• Army, LASTMA promise action

Passengers scampered for safety along the Anthony–Mile 2 road in Lagos yesterday after a soldier allegedly driving against traffic nearly caused a collision involving a commercial bus and a 40-foot container truck.

The incident occurred when the soldier, driving a grey Honda Civic with registration number Lagos KSF 97 BS, allegedly attempted to navigate a narrow section of the road against the flow of traffic to connect to Anthony Bus Stop.

The officer was reportedly coming from the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, located along the Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, and allegedly chose to drive against traffic rather than use the appropriate route beneath the Oshodi flyover to reach the other side of the road.

The driver of a white 14-seater commercial bus, with registration number Lagos GGE 90 YG, reportedly pleaded with the soldier to give way at the sharp-angled section of the road. However, the officer allegedly refused to yield.

As the standoff continued, a 40-foot container truck attempting to manoeuvre through the narrow stretch tilted towards the bus, triggering panic among its passengers.

Fearing that the truck could overturn onto their bus, the passengers hurried out and scrambled to safety.

The soldier reportedly stepped out of his car and watched as the passengers fled.

He eventually drove away after a female soldier spoke with him.

The incident has raised concerns about alleged traffic violations by military personnel in the area, particularly given its proximity to the headquarters of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

When contacted by The Guardian, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, said the agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, would take up the matter.

Similarly, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Iweha Ikedichi, acknowledged the report, saying: “Thank you for bringing this to my notice. I’ll escalate it to 9 Brigade, please.”