By Omowumi Omotosho
For many Lagos motorists, a simple drive through the city can quickly turn into a nightmare. Whether it’s an alleged traffic violation, a missing road sign, or an arbitrary stop by enforcement officers, the endgame is often the same—pay up or lose your vehicle.
Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has put a staggering figure to this widespread practice, claiming that over N100 billion is extorted from motorists annually in Lagos through dubious fines, indiscriminate arrests, and illegal impoundments.
“Those extorting drivers are not just public officers. They are also thugs of the government. And the local governments are helpless in dealing with them,” Falana said.
According to him, about N100bn is collected annually in Lagos through this scheme, identifying Oshodi as one of the state’s extortion hotspots.
“They collect over N100bn per year—enough to fix the roads. In Oshodi, they arrest people indiscriminately. Go there, and you’ll see vehicles, including those belonging to people who have no other job but kabukabu. We drive on the road too, but where are the road signs?” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria questioned.
He declared that during the last election, the state government temporarily suspended the indiscriminate arrests and released impounded vehicles to their owners “because they knew the action was unjust.”
“Look at another issue in Lagos—how many houses have numbers? Haven’t you had that experience where you’re searching for an address but can’t find any house numbers on the street? You keep driving around in circles. Yet, they claim Lagos is working. How is it working?” he added.
A recurring complaint among motorists is the lack of clear signage on Lagos roads, particularly on restricted routes such as BRT lanes. Many claim that enforcement officers deliberately exploit this ambiguity to impose heavy fines.
A recent viral video on social media showed a motorist in Ikorodu breaking down in tears as uniformed officers seized her car, accusing her of driving on a BRT lane. The woman, however, insisted there was no sign indicating the restriction.
“I was not on the BRT lane! I am begging you. I will die! This motor cannot tow my vehicle. I am begging the whole of Nigeria to help me!”
“This motor cannot tow my vehicle. I am not on the BRT lane. My daughter’s convocation is today! Officers, you are wicked. What is my offence?” she cried, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
The video sparked outrage, with several Lagos residents recounting similar experiences. Findings revealed that the hotspots for extortion in the state include bus terminals around Ikorodu, Oshodi, Obalende, Yaba, Oyingbo, Mile 2, the Aswani area/7&8 on Airport Road, Anthony, and certain sections of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, including Ile Epo and Pleasure bus stops.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, dismissed claims that road signs are missing or that the government is complicit in extortion.
“I drive on Lagos roads every day. I don’t pass through the BRT lanes because they are well-demarcated and clearly visible to everybody. What other signs are you looking for? Everybody knows a bus lane. They are well-demarcated with concrete. So what are we talking about? And for someone to accuse the government of removing the signs doesn’t sound sensible,” he said.
However, he admitted that signposts sometimes get vandalized but insisted that the Ministry of Transportation promptly replaces them.
“I remember that there is a special unit in the Ministry of Transportation that is in charge of road signposts, and they are alive to their duties. I see signs every day. I know that they get vandalised by people, but as soon as the ministry finds out, they re-erect the signs,” he stated.
