During the week, mixed reactions trailed the information alert shared across many social media platforms about the speed limit cameras that have been mounted by the Lagos State government along major roads within the city.

The messages shared were in three categories. One was titled Lagos State Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) sites. In the content, the following Information was made available. It stated: ?Lagos State has implemented Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) sites to monitor traffic and enforce road safety regulations. These systems include speed detection checkpoints and e-police stations for monitoring traffic violations.

1. Third Mainland Bridge: Speed Limit: 80 km/h

? Located along this major bridge, which connects the mainland to Lagos Island. Speed cameras monitor the traffic speed and violations on various parts of the bridge.

2. Alapere, Ogudu Road: Speed Limit: 80 km/h. A significant location with a speed camera to ensure vehicles adhere to the speed limit.

3. NITEL, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way: Speed Limit: 60 km/h- This is another area with a speed camera along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, a prominent road in Lagos.

4. Ojota Bridge (by Motorway), Speed Limit: 50 km/h: Speed cameras are located near the Ojota Bridge, which connects Ikorodu Road with the Third Mainland Bridge. The speed limit here is lower due to traffic density.

5. Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, Speed Limit: 50 km/h to 60 km/h: Speed cameras are installed to monitor traffic flow along this key bridge connecting Lekki and Ikoyi.

6. Allen Avenue Road Junction, Speed Limit: 50 km/h- Located at the intersection of Allen Avenue, this e-police station monitors various traffic violations, including speeding.

7. Nurudeen Olowopopo Road, Speed Limit: 60 km/h- This road also has speed cameras that enforce traffic rules and regulations.

8. Ikorodu Road (various locations), Speed Limit: 50 km/h to 60 km/h- Ikorodu Road has several speed cameras installed at different locations to monitor traffic speed.

9. Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Speed Limit: 50 km/h to 60 km/h- This busy highway has multiple speed cameras to regulate traffic flow and reduce accidents.

10. Epe Expressway, Speed Limit: 80 km/h, Speed cameras are installed to monitor high-speed driving along the Epe Expressway.

11. Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Speed Limit: 60 km/h- Cameras monitor traffic around the airport area, especially to control speeding near busy terminals and intersections.

The content also stated that motorists detected violating traffic laws at these locations will receive SMS notifications from the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), detailing the nature of the violation and the corresponding fines with fines set at ?20,000 for running red lights and ?50,000 for exceeding speed limits.

?These locations are part of the Lagos State Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that includes speed cameras, traffic lights, and e-police stations to monitor and enforce road safety. Fines are imposed on those caught violating speed limits or committing other road traffic offenses. It?s always a good idea to stay updated on speed limits in different areas, as they can change due to traffic conditions or roadworks.

?For specific details, you can check with local traffic authorities like LASTMA for the latest information on traffic enforcement.?

Although the other two messages were not as detailed as the one above but they communicated exactly the same message of the locations the cameras have been mounted, the speed limits for each of the locations and the fines that would be paid by a violator.

Speaking on the development, a resident, Godwin Ayebe, said that mounting of cameras and the imposition of fines is a topic that brings a lot of debate, especially in the context of traffic enforcement.

Some argue that these measures are necessary to ensure road safety and reduce violations, but others, particularly those in the informal sector like yellow bus (commercial bus) drivers, might feel unfairly targeted.

Ayebe insisted that enforcing traffic laws consistently across all vehicles, including public transport like yellow buses, is crucial for ensuring fairness and road safety.

?If cameras are deployed, they should ideally capture violations from all types of vehicles, whether private or commercial. If certain groups are excluded, it could undermine the enforcement system, leading to greater violations and safety concerns.?

On whether the state government is more concerned about revenue, Ayebe stated that it is possible that it could see the use of traffic cameras and the imposition of fines as a potential revenue-generating strategy.

?Governments around the world often rely on traffic fines as a source of income, and in some cases, this has sparked debates about whether the focus of such enforcement is truly about safety or more about revenue generation.?

On his part Gbenga Ebenezer also stated that it is another ploy by the Lagos State government to extort money from hapless citizens of the state.

He, nonetheless, observed that the initiative is a good idea aimed at reducing accidents by curbing excessive speeding, but noted that there are other punitive measures that should be introduced, not fines all the time.

?And the fact that the commercial buses are ?exempted? as always shows that the state is just introducing policies aimed at adding to the hardship faced by the people. The same case is happening with renewing of cars papers.

?It will soon come to a level when residents will rise against these excessive fines and charges, which is more about generating revenues than their perceived welfare of the people.?

A motorist, Adebola Johnson, stated that private car owners and corporate organisations are the ones who bear the brunt of government policies within the transport sector.

?Traffic laws are not obeyed by commercial buses in Lagos and the issue of camera has made it worse as many of them are updated with registrations so they do not bother.

?I have monitored the activities of Federal Road Safety Corps and Vehicle Inspection Service when they mount checks on the roads to enforce traffic laws, especially within the city, they are after private cars and vehicles belonging to corporate organizations.

?They careless about commercial vehicles despite they pose more danger to other road users. Many of the commercial buses are rickety with no papers, yet FRSC and VIO most of the times look away from them. Yet it is the commercial buses that engage in all manner of reckless driving,? Johnson stated.

Johnson also stated that the speed limit does not comply with highway code wondering why a major road like the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will have a speed limit of 50 to 60 km when the highway code says it should be 100km per hour.

?This shows it is more about revenue rather than promoting safety. The gap is too much. And none of the highways has a 100km per hour further buttressed it is about revenue not the interest of the people.?

The Public relations Officer of the Ministry of Transport, however, denied that the messages were issued by the ministry and that it is not true that cameras have been mounted in all the places listed the messages.

Worthy to mention is that on February 6, 2025, Lagos State announced that cameras have been mounted in two locations within the state. They were at Alapere, Ogudu Road, with a speed limit of 80km/h, while the other is at Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, with a speed limit of 60km/h. (The Guardian)

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