Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has declared that car spotting—the practice of young men approaching and shouting at luxury vehicles on the road—is criminal and will no longer be tolerated. He warned that more arrests will follow as enforcement efforts intensify across the state.
Arrests Already Made, More to Come
Speaking on Daily Digest with Jimi Disu on Nigerian Info FM, Hamzat was asked about the car spotters frequently seen around the roundabout leading into Lekki, who stop luxury cars and draw attention to them, often in exchange for tips from car owners or passersby. He responded directly: "That is criminal, and therefore we will not allow it. We will take a lot of them off the streets."
According to the deputy governor, enforcement efforts are already underway, with a number of arrests already made and surveillance cameras deployed across parts of the state to support monitoring. He framed the issue as part of a broader responsibility to ensure that laws are applied evenly across the state, regardless of who is involved.
Government's Role in Enforcing Laws
"Our job as government is to make sure that we now enforce that law. We must make sure that nobody's above it and nobody's beneath it," Hamzat said. He added that allowing certain groups to operate outside the law sets a dangerous precedent for the wider society.
"We have a crop of people that don't believe in the laws of the system, and they believe they are above the law. And a lot of people then see that to say well, everything goes. We cannot live as a society like that. It's not sustainable."
Car Spotting Phenomenon in Lekki
The car spotter phenomenon has become a fixture of Lekki's road culture in recent years, with young men frequently gathering around busy intersections to spot, film, or shout out expensive vehicles as they pass, sometimes causing minor traffic disruptions or unwanted attention for car owners. While some view the practice as a harmless hustle or content-driven entertainment, others—including now the state's deputy governor—have categorised it as a public nuisance requiring formal intervention.
Hamzat said strict, consistent enforcement was necessary to protect the integrity of the state and ensure public confidence in how laws are applied. The deputy governor's remarks signal a firm stance against the practice, with surveillance and arrests set to continue.
