Badagry Expressway gets relief as Lagos removes illegal checkpoints, dismantles 3 unauthorised customs checkpoints

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Lagos State Government has taken a significant step towards improving road safety, facilitating trade and reducing traffic congestion on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway by dismantling illegal checkpoints along the route.

Led by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Layode, a coordinated team of top security officials on Monday 7 July 2025 carried out the operation to address the proliferation of unauthorized checkpoints.

The operation was carried out with the cooperation of the Nigeria Police Force(NPF), Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), targeted unauthorized checkpoints that have been contributing to traffic congestion and accidents on the expressway.

Sunday morning ghastly motor accident on Badagry road

The Commissioner said the initiative was prompted by concerns over the rising frequency of accidents on the Badagry axis, including a recent tragic crash that claimed multiple lives.

Layode emphasized that the proliferation of illegal checkpoints poses significant risks to road users and that the state government is committed to preventing such tragedies.

The operation resulted in the dismantling of three Customs checkpoints at the Mowo axis, which were identified as unauthorized.

The commissioner also instructed officers to reduce the area occupied by security personnel at the Gbaji checkpoint to facilitate smoother movement of vehicles and goods.

The Lagos State Government’s efforts to eliminate illegal checkpoints on the Badagry Expressway are in line with the federal government’s initiative to remove multiple checkpoints hampering the free movement of people and goods across key transport corridors.

President Bola Tinubu recently launched a Presidential Task Force to address this issue, and the Lagos State Government’s actions demonstrate its commitment to supporting this initiative and improving the overall transportation infrastructure in the state.