Lagos Warns Car Spotters Roadside Activities Will No Longer Be Allowed, Cites Nuisance, Privacy Breach | Sahara Reporters

Wahab said car spotting would not be prohibited if conducted without obstructing roads or constituting a nuisance.

Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has warned car spotters against carrying out their activities on public roads, saying the practice constitutes a nuisance and breaches motorists’ privacy.

Wahab issued the warning in response to a video featuring popular Lagos car spotter Ola of Lagos, showing other car spotters how to carry out their activities around the Ikoyi Roundabout and other parts of Lagos.

The video was captioned: “Ola of Lagos showing Lagos car spotters how to spot cars in the right way at Ikoyi roundabout and in Lagos generally cos of the narrative going on online about Lagos state government wanting to scrape them off the street.”

Responding to the post, Wahab said car spotting would not be prohibited if conducted without obstructing roads or constituting a nuisance.

“You can do your car spotting without constituting a nuisance or obstructing the road in any way,” the commissioner wrote.

“You are welcome to visit car lots and engage in your car-spotting activities there. However, staying on the road for this purpose will not be allowed in any way.

“Aside from being a nuisance, it is also a breach of privacy and will not be tolerated by the State Government.

The commissioner’s position has, however, generated mixed reactions on social media, with some users supporting the proposed restriction while others called for regulation rather than an outright crackdown on the activity.

An X user, KIZITO, argued that car spotters could be turned into ambassadors to educate others about the dangers of approaching vehicles on the road and disclosing motorists’ locations.

“I think another idea is that, since the harm has already been done, these guys can be turned into ambassadors who help pass the message about how dangerous and wrong it is to run into cars on the road and invade people’s privacy,” the user wrote.

The user added that car spotters could be invited to car lots and other designated locations, arguing that while they were not solely responsible for the growing problem of people running towards vehicles, they could help discourage the practice.

Another X user, Olawale Folarin, questioned the timing of the government’s position.

“Will not be tolerated ke? Something that has become a norm, that has become hustle for people,” the X user wrote.

“My problem with this govt is they are always reactive and never pro active. Y’all are suppose to nip the situation in the bud, but you wait till it escalated.”

Other users supported Wahab’s position, particularly over concerns that roadside car spotting could expose motorists to privacy and security risks.

“This makes sense. It’s real time disclosure of a person’s location and that’s dangerous,” an X user identified as The Foxxy One wrote.

However, another user, Foxy, said the government should consider regulation and designated locations rather than pushing the activity underground.

“I love the idea of order on our roads, truly. As much as the intent to clear obstructions is clear, we need to ask if we’re finding solutions or just pushing a popular youth activity underground. Regulation and designated spots could be a path,” the user wrote.

Mola 3rdchild, on the other hand, defended car spotting as an emerging industry and questioned the government’s approach to the activity.

“What are you saying car spotting is an industry on it and there is nothing wrong with that,” the user wrote, while pointing to the popularity and financial opportunities associated with the activity.

Bamidele Shotola said the government’s attention should also focus on other environmental challenges confronting Lagos.

“Car spotting should not be the primary assignment in the state at this point. I understand that it needs to be controlled, but the level of environmental waste and poor waste management across the state has become increasingly concerning,” the X user wrote.

Car spotting has grown into a popular social media-driven activity in Lagos, with young people gathering around roads and major intersections to identify, film and interact with owners of luxury and exotic vehicles.

The activity has also attracted concerns over road safety, obstruction, harassment of motorists and the filming or disclosure of motorists’ locations without their consent