The Ogun State Police Command has issued a high-level security warning to motorists, commercial drivers, and street traders found obstructing the free flow of traffic through illegal parking and the unauthorized display of merchandise on major highways. Speaking through a formal statement released in Abeokuta on Saturday, April 11, 2026, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, declared a zero-tolerance policy for activities that exacerbate gridlock and compromise public safety. The directive, which is part of an intensified enforcement phase of the “Operation No Traffic Gridlock,” specifically targets the Sango-Ota and Sagamu axes, where ongoing construction work on the Abeokuta-Lagos and Sagamu-Benin Expressways has already narrowed available lanes and increased the risk of road traffic crashes.
According to the statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oluseyi Babaseyi, the command has observed a disturbing trend of indiscriminate stopping on carriageways, double parking, and the conversion of active lanes into makeshift loading bays for interstate buses. The police authorities emphasized that these actions not only impede the movement of commuters but also create soft targets for criminal elements who exploit traffic snarls to rob unsuspecting citizens. The Commissioner of Police warned that any individual found culpable of these traffic infractions will be arrested and immediately prosecuted in a mobile court to serve as a deterrent to others who treat public infrastructure with levity.
The enforcement exercise is a collaborative effort involving the State Motor Traffic Department (SMTD), Area Traffic Officers, and environmental marshals from the Ogun State Ministry of Environment. The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, had previously visited the Sango Tollgate area, where he identified the presence of an illegal motor park that has existed for over 25 years as a primary cause of recurring fatal accidents. The state government has resolved to relocate all interstate transit operations and roadside traders to more organized locations, such as the Sango Garage, while constructing permanent barricades on both sides of the tollgate to prevent a return to the status quo.
Road safety and security analysts suggest that the “bottleneck effect” created by illegal trading is a significant contributor to the high mortality rate on Nigerian highways. Experts argue that the psychological stress of prolonged traffic congestion often leads to “road rage” and reckless driving, further endangering lives. They suggest that for the “Operation No Traffic Gridlock” to be sustainable, the police must maintain a 24-hour presence in identified hotspots and leverage surveillance technology to monitor traffic compliance. Analysts maintain that the successful relocation of these markets and parks requires a sensitive but firm approach to ensure that the livelihoods of the traders are not destroyed but merely restructured for the greater public good.
The broader implications of this crackdown point toward a more disciplined approach to urban planning and highway management in Ogun State, which serves as the nation’s primary industrial corridor. By prioritizing the “right of way” for commuters and logistical transport, the state government is seeking to enhance its ease-of-doing-business profile and reduce the economic losses associated with man-hours lost in traffic. As the police and environmental agencies begin the strict enforcement of this order, the focus remains on the cooperation of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and various market associations. For the residents of Sango-Ota and Sagamu, the police warning is a signal that the era of “highway lawlessness” is drawing to a close in favor of a safer, more orderly transportation system.
