The Lagos State Government has urged courier companies and other stakeholders to prioritise riders’ safety over profit by training them and enforcing standards.
The Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Transportation, Mr Olawale Musa, gave the advice at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Strategic Road Safety Stakeholder Engagement with couriers, including dispatch riders, onThursday.
The engagement had the theme: ‘Ride Smart, Stay Alive’.
Musa was represented by Mr Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, Director, Transport Operation, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.
According to him, the ministry’s vision remains a safer Lagos, where discipline ensures mobility, protects lives and sustains growth.
“Lagos courier sector drives economic activities and livelihoods.
“Authorities recognise its value but insist that responsibility must match recognition to build a transport system that protects lives and supports prosperity.
“Safety requires shared commitment. Enforcement, awareness and infrastructure improvements must continue but reckless riding, lawlessness and misuse of Bus Rapid Transit corridors undermine progress and put lives at constant risk.
“Non-compliance fuels crashes, gridlock, and economic losses. Riders must obey traffic laws, use safety gear and operate legally, as every decision on the road carries consequences,” he said.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, urged dispatch riders and other couriers to prioritise their safety.
He said that the theme of the event was a call to responsibility and discipline.
Bakare-Oki said that dispatch riders and courier firms played vital roles in the economy of Lagos, support businesses, drive e-commerce, facilitate deliveries and create jobs.
He said that Lagos State remained Nigeria’s commercial hub with growing logistics activities.
He said thousands of riders operated daily across Lagos, boosting productivity and mobility, but warned that the rapid expansion of the sector had raised concerns about road safety and traffic management.
He disclosed that LASTMA rescued over 862 accident victims in 2025 and impounded 16,641 vehicles for offences.
According to him, the figures reflect increasing pressure on road infrastructure and enforcement systems.
He said that 187 dispatch-related incidents were recorded in 2024, 192 in 2025, and 42 in the first quarter of 2026, describing the trend as alarming.
“These crashes are attributed to speeding, reckless riding, fatigue and violations.
“Stakeholders are urged to collaborate, strengthen safety compliance and promote rider education, as no delivery target is worth loss of life,” he said.
Bakare-Oki said that there would be quarterly engagements between LASTMA and couriers.
He said that the agency would train 500 dispatch riders in no distant time.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tijani Fatai, said that activities of couriers had contributed significantly to road accidents, urging stricter adherence to traffic regulations.
Fatai said that reckless riding, negligence and disregard for traffic laws remained major causes of avoidable accidents, affecting road users and placing pressure on security agencies responding to emergencies.
He commended LASTMA for organising the advocacy programme, describing it as timely in promoting discipline, professionalism and compliance among couriers and other stakeholders.
“The police pledge to continue collaboration with agencies, including LASTMA.
“Companies must prioritise safety, training and responsible conduct to build a safer Lagos,” he said.
Mr Gideon Shonde, General Manager, Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department, Nigerian Postal Service, said that courier business had gone beyond moving parcels or meals.
It said the trade had become a profession shaped by risk, responsibility and strict safety measures.
According to Shonde, couriers must understand that every delivery carries both trust and danger.
“Trust and time are the pillars of the trade. Customers rely on riders to deliver safely and promptly, but pressure to meet targets often pushes some into reckless behaviour and traffic violations.
“In pursuit of higher earnings, some riders ignore safety, carry prohibited items and compromise ethics.
“This not only endangers lives but also threatens the integrity and security of the courier industry,” he said.
He urged that government regulations and licensing frameworks should guide the business.
He added that collaboration among agencies and adherence to laws remained essential to ensure professionalism, safety and a sustainable future for the industry.
Mr Shielu Olajuwon, President, Professional Logistics Association, commended Lagos State Government for support toward safer logistics operations.
He urged authorities to enforce a 70km-per-hour speed limit for dispatch riders, warning that excessive speed would reduce control, especially for riders carrying loads.
Olajuwon said the sector had been unregulated, with many operators outside NIPOST’s oversight, adding that training and safety awareness were important.
Strategic Road Safety Stakeholder Engagement with couriers, including dispatch riders, onThursday.
Agencies represented at the engagement include Federal Road Safety Corps and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
