LASTMA, Police, NIPOST Move To Curb Dispatch Rider Crashes In Lagos

LASTMA, Police, NIPOST Move To Curb Dispatch Rider Crashes In Lagos

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has intensified efforts to address the rising rate of road crashes involving courier and dispatch riders in Lagos through a strategic stakeholders’ engagement focused on road safety, enforcement, training and regulatory compliance.

The engagement, held at the LASTMA Headquarters in Oshodi, brought together dispatch riders, courier operators, logistics companies, security agencies, transport regulators and professional associations under the theme, “Ride Smart, Stay Alive.”

Speaking during the engagement, the General Manager of LASTMA Mr Bakare Oki said the initiative became necessary in response to the increasing number of fatal and avoidable crashes involving dispatch riders on Lagos roads.

He recalled tragic incidents including the death of two dispatch riders at the Eko Bridge corridor following a collision with an articulated truck, as well as another fatal accident at the PWD Railway Crossing in Ikeja involving a rider who reportedly attempted a dangerous crossing.

According to him, investigations and field observations revealed that many of the crashes were caused by over speeding, reckless overtaking, riding against traffic, fatigue, poor motorcycle maintenance, traffic light violations and the use of mobile phones while riding.

He also lamented widespread disregard for safety regulations, particularly the non-use of crash helmets and standard reflective jackets by some riders.

The LASTMA boss noted that dispatch riders remain critical to Lagos’ fast-growing commercial ecosystem, supporting businesses, e-commerce activities, food delivery services and urban mobility across the state.

“Today’s theme, ‘Ride Smart, Stay Alive,’ is not merely a slogan; it is a strong and urgent call for responsibility, professionalism, discipline and safety consciousness on our roads,” he said.

Citing operational statistics released by LASTMA, he disclosed that over 862 crash victims were rescued through emergency interventions across Lagos traffic corridors in 2025, while more than 16,641 vehicles were impounded for offences including reckless driving, obstruction, overloading and mechanical defects.

He further revealed that incidents involving courier and dispatch riders recorded 187 cases between January and December 2024, 43 incidents in 2025 and 19 cases so far in 2026.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, condemned the reckless behaviour of some dispatch riders, stating that many fail to obey traffic laws or respect other road users.

He stressed that all security agencies must work together to guarantee the safety of road users, particularly dispatch riders whose operations expose them daily to traffic hazards.

The police commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos State Police Command to collaborate with LASTMA in enforcing traffic regulations, improving compliance and addressing security concerns linked to courier operations.

He urged riders to embrace defensive riding techniques, continuous training and peer mentoring in order to reduce accidents and promote professionalism within the industry.

Also speaking, officials of Nigerian Postal Service highlighted the historical evolution of courier services and the agency’s regulatory mandate over courier, dispatch and logistics operations in Nigeria.

Head of Courier Services at NIPOST, Gideon Oludotun Shonde, said the agency was leveraging technology-driven innovations such as QR codes and digital “booster tags” to improve rider profiling, tracking and operational accountability.

He noted that NIPOST had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation to strengthen joint enforcement operations and industrial training programmes for riders.

Shonde emphasized the importance of licensing, ethical conduct and adherence to operational standards, warning against overloading, unsafe riding and criminal activities such as the transportation of illicit substances through dispatch services.

President of the Professional Logistics Association, Olujuwon Shielu, called for stricter speed regulation, continuous rider education and stronger collaboration between professional bodies and government agencies.

He stated that regular sensitization, formal training and voluntary compliance with traffic laws would significantly improve safety standards and reduce fatalities among dispatch riders.

Meanwhile, a paper presented during the engagement by CSP Yemisi Alli titled, “Synergy Within Government Agencies for Collaboration in Road Traffic Management,” stressed that effective road safety management requires coordinated efforts among engineering, enforcement, education and emergency response agencies.

The paper emphasized that shared information, unified data systems and joint decision-making among government institutions were essential to reducing preventable deaths on Lagos roads.

“Road traffic management is not the job of one department. Safety is a shared responsibility,” the paper stated.

The strategic engagement formed part of broader efforts by LASTMA to sensitise operators on extant traffic regulations governing their activities on public roads while strengthening collaborative safety initiatives within the transportation ecosystem in Lagos State.