Emmanuel Clement
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) celebrated its 25 years anniversary with the aim at enhancing traffic efficiency and road safety across the state.
The event, held at the prestigious hotel,Eko Hotel and Suites on Tuesday 15, July 2025,under the theme “Enhancing Traffic Efficiency and Safety on Lagos Roads: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations,”so as to mark the 25th anniversary of LASTMA’s establishment.
The conference featured the official unveiling of the LASTMA 20-Year Policy Compendium, a forward-looking operational document capturing the agency’s milestones, strategies, and visionary goals for the future of traffic management in Lagos.
Investigator news reports that the event had in attendance,the Governor of Lagos State who was ably represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat ,the Oba of Lagos represented by his White Chiefs cap,the Commissioner of Police and the MD Railway Nigeria
Stakeholders at the conference,proposed the establishment of a Unified Mobility Control Centre to enable real-time monitoring and response, and advised LASTMA to expand intelligent transport systems (ITS) across high-density corridors.
They urged the State government to ensure consistent funding and institutional protection for LASTMA, while officers’ welfare packages, including healthcare, safe working environments, affordable housing, and morale-boosting incentives, were deemed critical for job performance and motivations.
Earlier the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transport,Hon Giwa Sola stated that the 25 years anniversary is not just about cutting cakes and shaking hands but a day of solemn recognition of a quarter-century-long journey that began with a simple, yet powerful idea: that Lagos could, and should, take control of its traffic destiny.
He noted that since the establishment of LASTMA in July 2000,the agency has been able to address one of the most pressing challenges confronting our megacity: chaotic, inefficient, and often dangerous road traffic.
“From a modest beginning with less than 1,000 personnel and rudimentary tools, we have grown into a 4,000-strong institution at the forefront of urban mobility enforcement,incident response, and public service.”
“In these 25 years, we’ve deployed officers to virtually every major corridor, from the ever busy Ikorodu Road to the evolving Lekki-Epe axis, managing over 2 million daily vehicular movements across Lagos’ 9,100km road network.”
“Our officers have braved the sun, storms, and street hostility, not only to clear bottlenecks but also to save lives during accidents, coordinate disaster response, and facilitate seamless movement of goods and services”.
Giwa opined that this year’s theme, “Enhancing Traffic Efficiency and Road Safety: Challenges, Opportunities and Innovations,” could not be more timely as Lagos currently holds Nigeria’s highest vehicle density, with an estimated 1.2 million vehicles registered within its boundaries, representing over 30% of the national vehicle population.
He noted that this growth, while a testament to our economic vibrancy, has placed enormous strain on our infrastructure. The average Lagosian spends between 4 and 6 hours daily in traffic, resulting in an estimated ₦1 trillion annual productivity loss.
The Special Adviser went further to state that under the forward-looking leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,the agency have made significant strides which include:The Blue Line Rail is operational, and the Red Line Rail is nearing completion, offering a credible shift from road to rail,commissioned 21 new ferry routes under the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), contributing to intermodal decongestion,modernized BRT corridors, improved first-and lastmile buses, and integrated tap-in/tap-out systems for transit accountability through LAMATA
Continuing,he said that in terms of human capital, our reforms at LASTMA include improved training modules, better welfare packages, and a renewed focus on public relations and conflict descalation, stating that innovation is not just about tech. It is about thinking differently, acting ethically, and delivering predictable outcomes as they must embed behavioral science into road user education, leverage data analytics and GPS routing patterns for real-time congestion forecasting,introduce zero-emission lanes and incentivize green commuting and strengthen inter-agency collaboration among LASTMA, VIS, LASDRI, FRSC, and law enforcement units.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday,who was represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat lauded the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority for its evolution into a tech-driven mobility agency, describing it as a “model institution admired nationwide and beyond.”
Speaking at the agency’s 25th anniversary celebration held at Eko Hotel and Suites, the governor reflected on LASTMA’s establishment in 2000 by then-Governor Bola Tinubu to address the state’s crippling traffic congestion.
“He inherited a city plagued by chaotic traffic congestion and conceived LASTMA as a bold solution to restore order, safety, and efficiency on our roads,” Sanwo-Olu submitted
Highlighting the agency’s transformation, Sanwo-Olu said LASTMA had moved from using whistles and hand signals to deploying real-time surveillance, automated number plate recognition, and digital communication platforms.
“The LASTMA of tomorrow will be a technologically empowered agency… powered by artificial intelligence, automated number plate recognition, and soon, drone surveillance,” he said.
He noted that with over 4,000 officers deployed across Lagos, the agency now manages traffic using a fully digitised command centre.
The governor stressed that every minute saved on Lagos roads directly contributes to economic growth.
“By reducing congestion, we directly enhance business productivity, streamline supply chains, and bolster the competitiveness of our commercial ecosystem,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also praised the synergy between LASTMA and Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1FM.
“Together, the expanded LASTMA infrastructure and Lagos Traffic Radio form a synergistic system creating a more responsive and dynamic traffic management ecosystem,” he noted.
While commending the dedication of LASTMA personnel, the governor honoured fallen officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
“Your uniform represents the thin yellow line that stands firmly between order and chaos on our roads. We pledge to support you and honour their memory,” he said
He unveiled a 20-year strategic blueprint for traffic management and urged Lagosians to support traffic laws and officers.
“Together, we will make Lagos the model for urban mobility in Africa,” Sanwo-Olu concluded.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of was presentation of cash prize award to the winners of State wide inter school essay competition where the winners went home with phone tablet and cash prize ranging from 1Million to N500,000.
Also the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat joined other dignitaries to cut the anniversary cake
Investigator news gathered that the conference reaffirmed the state’s commitment to building smarter, safer, and more inclusive mobility systems, setting the stage for a more efficient traffic management system that meets the demands of a rapidly growing urban population.
The Conference also firmly underscored that the establishment of LASTMA represents a masterstroke in public policy—a strategic blend of law enforcement, civil engagement, and urban planning woven into a singular institutional framework.
As over the past 25 years, LASTMA has proven to be an indispensable structure, significantly enhancing road safety, reducing traffic chaos, and contributing to the overall efficiency of Africa’s most dynamic megacity.
Its role must therefore be reinforced, refined, and reimagined through innovations and fully embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the next chapter of Lagos’s urban future as the agency expressed deep gratitude to the Mr. Governor – Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, Mr. Deputy Governor, and other stakeholders for their unwavering support.
