The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has launched an investigation into claims that its officers attempted to extort N100,000 from a motorist on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The incident reportedly occurred near the Epe Expressway axis, where the motorist was allegedly detained and pressured to pay the sum. LASTMA confirmed the probe in a statement, describing the allegations as "serious" and pledging full disciplinary action if findings implicate any of its personnel. The agency emphasized its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and misconduct, urging members of the public to report such incidents through official channels.
An officer demanding N100,000 on a highway is not an outlier—it is the logical end of a system where low wages and weak oversight meet unchecked authority. LASTMA's swift announcement of a probe does little to erase the daily reality for motorists who face routine harassment on major routes. If past cases are any guide, this investigation will yield a scapegoat but no structural change. For Nigerians, the road remains a marketplace where movement is traded for bribes.
