The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says it sanctioned 18 officers and arrested over 7,000 vehicles through physical enforcement for various traffic offences in the first half of 2025.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
In addition to physical enforcement, Bakare-Oki said over 54,000 vehicles were captured using Traffic Management Solutions (TMS)—a technology-based system introduced under his administration.
“The usage of technology for enforcement is part of the initiative I brought in as general manager, and it has helped the authority tremendously,” he said.
He added that more than 1,000 vehicles were removed from the roads, and over 700 road traffic crashes were recorded during the same period.
Training, Re-orientation of Personnel
To ensure improved service delivery, the authority prioritised the training and re-orientation of its personnel, beginning in January 2025.
“We have a year-long programme running from January to December, with weekly internal trainings,” Bakare-Oki explained.
He said officers are regularly pulled from the field for engagement sessions featuring senior LASTMA officials and professionals from the state civil service.
Training topics have included:
Emotional intelligence
Non-aggressive enforcement
Mental health and healthcare prioritisation
Advanced traffic management techniques
Officers Disciplined for Misconduct
The general manager confirmed that the 18 officers sanctioned were found guilty of violating established rules and regulations. The disciplinary actions followed due process and were in line with the Lagos State Public Service Rules.
“Sanctions ranged from dismissal and demotion to official warnings,” he stated.
Public Engagement and New Initiatives
Bakare-Oki said the agency had also launched several public enlightenment initiatives to promote compliance with traffic laws. These include:
Monthly traffic awareness campaigns
Introduction of the Female Elite Corps
Launch of the LASTMA Mayor initiative
“Traffic management is a shared responsibility. LASTMA is putting everything in place to increase public engagement and awareness,” he said.
He urged Lagos residents to obey traffic regulations, emphasising the authority’s commitment to transparency, technology, and continuous improvement.
“We’ve upgraded our research and statistics department to enhance data-driven planning and operational efficiency,” he added.
