Lagos Traffic Agency Bans Use of Union Stickers in Place of Official Number Plates

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has issued a stern warning to transport unions, prohibiting the use of unauthorized “union stickers” as substitutes for official vehicle registration plates.

In a statement on Sunday, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the practice as illegal and a significant threat to public safety and the state’s security infrastructure.

Bakare-Oki emphasized that replacing government-issued number plates with union insignia constitutes a clear violation of regulatory laws. He stated that this practice hinders effective law enforcement, complicates traffic management, and creates a loophole for criminal activity by obscuring vehicle identification.

“This practice is a clear breach of the law and will not be tolerated,” Bakare-Oki declared. “Any vehicle found operating with ‘Union Sticker’ identifiers or similar unauthorized symbols will be impounded immediately, and offenders will face the full weight of the law.”

The agency announced plans to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations across major roads in collaboration with other security agencies. Bakare-Oki clarified that only vehicles duly registered with the appropriate government bodies are legally permitted to operate on public roads in Lagos.

He urged transport unions to ensure full compliance, framing adherence to registration protocols not merely as an administrative formality, but as an essential measure for resident safety and security.

The directive is part of the state government’s broader commitment to sanitizing the transportation sector through the strict enforcement of traffic regulations. The move addresses growing concerns among authorities that the proliferation of unauthorized identifiers threatens order and security on Lagos roads.