Illegal traffic rule enforcement by Mushin council officials frustrates Lagos motorists

They harass, extort, and arrest car owners, truck drivers, and motorcycle riders on the roads, while the Lagos State Government appears to be helpless or look the other way despite widespread public outcry. Over the past five years, these men—who claim to be employees of various Lagos State Local Councils—have gained influence and grown in number.

Frequent raids by the State government’s task force have left them undeterred as they device new strategies in exploiting motorists.

Many motorists, particularly private vehicle owners using the Agunlejika-to-Toyota section of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in the Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and surrounding areas, have reported unpleasant encounters with individuals posing as local council officers. These individuals claim to enforce traffic regulations, demanding vehicle particulars and other documentation.

In Mushin, these men, often dressed in local council-branded aprons and t-shirts, regularly patrol the Agunlejika-to-Five Star stretch of the expressway, stopping motorists and impounding vehicles. They also ply the LUTH-Ilasamaja road harassing motorists who are in transit rather than those parked on the roads.

Their latest victim, Ndubuisi Nwokoma, a retired economics professor from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), recounted his recent experience. Two weeks ago, while driving on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway towards the Toyota Bus Stop from Ilasa, he encountered what appeared to be a routine blockage.

“The service lane on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway is two-way. As I approached Iyana-Isolo, I noticed that the vehicles ahead were stationary, while the other lane was clear. Assuming there was a breakdown, I tried to bypass the blockage, unaware that council officers had caused it. As I attempted to pass, someone suddenly jumped in front of my car, accusing me of driving against traffic.”

Nwokoma explained that he hadn’t realised they were responsible for the obstruction and had assumed there was an issue with the vehicles ahead. However, his explanation was dismissed. “They entered my car and began questioning me, asking if I had done something like this before. Eventually, they demanded that I ‘buy them soft drinks.’ I explained I had little money on me and needed to get to a meeting.” When they pressed further, he showed them his wallet, containing only about N10,000, and offered half, which they accepted. “They had already taken my car key and told me to move to the passenger side, as one of them insisted on driving.”

As they drove towards Iyana-Isolo, they issued a caution, only to veer off the road near the Iyana-Isolo flyover, taking him to an office complex that appeared to be a council office. Once there, they handed him over to another group and left. The new team’s leader informed Nwokoma that his car was in their compound and that he needed to pay a fine of N75,000 to the Lagos State Government for allegedly driving against traffic.

He was instructed to make the payment in Ajah to retrieve his vehicle.
The leader added that they had refrained from towing his car because he had cooperated, though they had initially intended to do so between Ilasa and Hassan bus stops.

At the office, there was discussion of deflating his tyres, but one officer suggested they wait to see if he would continue to “cooperate.”

After being informed about the fine and the requirement to travel to Ajah for payment, Nwokoma said: “I wondered what would happen if I left my car there for hours, as going to Ajah to pay the fine could take days. While I was considering this, the leader of the new group offered to reduce the fine to N50,000, saying they were willing to let me go.

“When I agreed to pay the N50,000 fine, they directed me to a PoS terminal. When I asked which one, one of them provided an account number to transfer the money. They also insisted on an additional N1,500 service charge, bringing the total to N51,500. I made the transfer and was given back my car keys.”

After completing the payment, Nwokoma noted that the receipt indicated the payment had been made to Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, with the account name listed as Akoje and Brannks Ventures – Rannks Ventures.

Nwokoma is just one of many residents who have had troubling encounters with Mushin Local Council officers claiming to enforce traffic rules. His experience occurred only months after The Guardian Editor, Dr Femi Adekoya, was similarly harassed near the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) by men presenting themselves as council officers.

From the complaints of those who have interacted with these council traffic officials, there appear to be no consistent enforcement rules, as these officers selectively apply the law and often create rules not recognised in any traffic code.

For example, while commercial tricycles regularly stop to pick up passengers on the service lanes around the Iyana-Itire junction, Ilasa, Iyana-Isolo, Five Star, and Toyota bus stops, the Mushin Local Council traffic task force generally overlooks these violations, despite the obstruction they cause. However, if a private vehicle stops briefly, even to pick up a passenger or take a phone call, council officers swiftly move to impound the car, citing traffic offences.

Along the Agunlejika-to-Toyota stretch, these council officers are frequently seen impounding private vehicles parked for any reason while consistently overlooking traffic violations by tricycles and other commercial vehicles. This selective enforcement has led to growing frustration among private vehicle owners who feel targeted, while commercial drivers are given free rein to disregard traffic rules.

Segun Solomon also shared his experience of being stopped by council traffic officials near Iyana-Itire on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. “As I approached Iyana-Itire Junction, I intended to turn onto Adeniyi Street, a two-lane road separated by a triangular garden. Instead of taking the exit lane on Adeniyi Street, as vehicles driving against traffic from Ilasa usually do, I continued past it, unaware that those driving against traffic use the exit lane as an entry point.

“Suddenly, a group of men in branded local council vests emerged from a hiding spot and flagged me down. When I stopped, they claimed I had driven against traffic. I asked how since the road is two-way. But they insisted I should have used the exit lane to enter, as other vehicles do when leaving the street.

“When I pointed out there was no signage to indicate this rule, they shouted me down, saying ignorance is no excuse in law. Two of them got into my car and directed me to a spot near Cele Bus Stop, which they claimed was their office. There, they handed me over to a man they called their senior officer before disappearing.

“The so-called senior officer ignored my pleas, and I was only released after paying N20,000, following subtle threats that I might face a higher fine if their overall boss got involved,” Solomon said. He added, “Recently, I passed through Iyana-Itire again and noticed a one-way sign on a pole, but it’s still placed in a way that’s confusing, especially for motorists new to the area.”

Additionally, it is common for commercial vehicles to drive against traffic from Cele to Agunlejika on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway towards Oshodi while council traffic officials look the other way. However, if a private car does the same, these officers swiftly intervene to enforce the rule.

The Guardian investigations revealed that specific locations within Mushin Local Council are hotspots where traffic officers frequently target unsuspecting motorists.