Lagos State Government has unveiled a 20-year traffic management blueprint as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, while speaking during a media briefing, yesterday, described the silver jubilee as a turning point for the agency and the state’s approach to traffic control.

“This is not just a celebration, but a moment to reaffirm our commitment to smarter, safer, and more efficient traffic management,” Giwa said.

Meanwhile, in continuation of the commemorative activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the agency, and as a prelude to the highly anticipated second Lagos Traffic Conference, the Authority, through its flagship initiative, the Lagos State Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme (LASTSAP), yesterday, convened the grand finale of a statewide inter-school ‘Essay Competition’ at the SUBEB Hall, Maryland, Lagos.

The intellectually enriching event, designed to galvanise the critical faculties of young minds, witnessed active participation from public and private secondary schools.

Students submitted incisive essays articulating forward-thinking and sustainable strategies for enhancing traffic safety and efficiency in a complex urban ecosystem like Lagos.

Giwa, who lauded the initiative for its far-reaching impact, noted that it seeks to “ignite civic consciousness and cultivate intellectual discourse among the youths on the intricacies of traffic regulation and safety.”

He emphasised that the contest served not merely as an academic exercise but also as a transformative platform for amplifying the voices of future city-shapers in Lagos transportation narrative.

The special adviser said that the competition culminated in a riveting final round, wherein the shortlisted finalists demonstrated exceptional analytical depth, rhetorical finesse, and creative ingenuity, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of urban mobility dynamics.

He said: “The climax of this noble intellectual endeavour lies ahead, as the three distinguished winners shall be publicly honoured and conferred with awards of excellence by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the second Lagos Traffic Conference, slated to take place on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.”

Also speaking on the occasion, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, underscored the imperative of mainstreaming youth engagement in traffic policy discourse and behavioural re-orientation.