LASTMA Inducts New Traffic Mayors, Handles 8,000 Calls, Deploys Tech and Drones to Ease Lagos Traffic
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has revealed that it has attended to over 8,000 calls on traffic gridlock, officials’ conduct on the roads, and commendations for outstanding service since the introduction of its toll-free line.
General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this during the induction of new Traffic Mayors at the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos.
He explained that the adoption of technology in traffic enforcement was a deliberate strategy to reduce direct interaction between motorists and officials, a move which has significantly cut down complaints against the agency.
According to him, in 2024 alone, LASTMA captured 54,332 vehicles for various traffic offences using technology, while drones have also been acquired to improve information gathering on road activities.
Bakare-Oki emphasized that one of the agency’s core objectives is to change public perception through periodic training programmes for officials, stressing that its central mandate since inception has been to ensure safer roads and orderliness in the state.
He further noted that the media plays a critical role in projecting the activities of LASTMA, which has been in operation for over 25 years, adding that the agency continues to fulfill its responsibilities satisfactorily.
On the newly inducted Traffic Mayors, the LASTMA boss said he was delighted with the inclusion of people of integrity who will serve as a bridge between government and citizens. He described them as watchdogs over the more than 4,000 LASTMA officials deployed across the state, adding that they were expected to help curb excesses and rebrand the agency.
Bakare-Oki also highlighted LASTMA’s role as one of the first responders at accident scenes in Lagos, an effort that has earned commendations from far and near.
He noted that Lagos, despite covering less than one percent of Nigeria’s landmass, has the country’s highest vehicular density. Citing the National Bureau of Statistics, he said Nigeria has over 12 million vehicles, with Lagos alone accounting for more than two million. “By normal standards, 11 vehicles are supposed to ply one kilometre of road, but in Lagos, it is 400,” he stated.
Concluding, he described the task of controlling traffic as especially challenging given the ongoing 147 road projects across different parts of the city.
Some of the newly inducted Traffic Mayors who are media practitioners include Kayode Ladeinde of TVC, Joshua Morakinyo of LTV, Okunade Folarin of Bond 92.9 FM, Victor Oteri of Traffic Radio, Samson Oki of Trek Africa, Opeyemi Makinde of Adamimogo 93.1 FM, and Adeola Oluwole of The Integrity News.
