The General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring safety and order on Lagos roads as the state enters the 2025 Ember months.
Speaking at the yearly Ember Months Stakeholders’ Forum held on Tuesday at the LASTMA Headquarters in Oshodi, Bakare-Oki described the forum as a crucial platform that unites transport unions, law enforcement agencies, and the motoring public in the shared mission of reducing road accidents during the busy year-end season.
According to Bakare-Oki, Lagos now hosts over 5.2 million registered vehicles, representing nearly 40 per cent of Nigeria’s total vehicular population. This, he noted, makes the state particularly vulnerable to traffic congestion and accidents, especially during the Ember period when movement and commercial activity surge.
“From January to September 2025 alone, LASTMA and partner agencies recorded over 3,200 traffic incidents, with nearly 60 per cent occurring along major corridors such as Ikorodu Road, Apapa–Oshodi Expressway, Third Mainland Bridge, and Lekki–Epe Expressway,” he said.
Providing further context, the General Manager compared recent statistics:
2024 (Jan–Dec): 2,051 accidents, 5,108 vehicle breakdowns, 190 fatalities, and 1,075 injuries.
2025 (Jan–Sept): 1,006 accidents, 2,442 breakdowns, 87 fatalities, and 666 injuries.
“These figures are far more than mere statistics,” he emphasised. “They represent lives lost, families shattered, and a reminder that road safety is not just a duty — it’s a moral responsibility.”
Bakare-Oki commended Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his continued support and visionary leadership in strengthening traffic management operations across the state. Under the current administration, LASTMA has enhanced its operational efficiency through several innovations, including:
Deployment of body cameras and Traffic Management Solutions (TMS); Drone surveillance for real-time traffic monitoring; and Improved logistics for faster emergency response.
For the ongoing Ember season, he disclosed that the agency has deployed over 2,500 officers to monitor high-risk corridors, refurbished tow trucks and operational vehicles, and upgraded communication systems to ensure real-time coordination among field operatives.
Bakare-Oki stressed that while government provides infrastructure and enforcement, true safety depends on all road users. He urged drivers, passengers, and pedestrians to embrace patience, discipline, and empathy.
“Speed thrills but kills. Better late than never. One careless act can cost a lifetime of regret,” he cautioned.
The General Manager added that LASTMA has intensified its public awareness campaigns through radio broadcasts, digital platforms, and community outreach to instil safer driving habits among residents.
Concluding his address, Bakare-Oki called for deeper collaboration among transport unions, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Police, emergency responders, and the media to ensure the 2025 Ember season becomes the safest yet.
“Our vision is clear and unwavering,” he said.
“Zero Accidents. Zero Fatalities. Zero Excuses.”
He thanked all stakeholders for their partnership and reaffirmed LASTMA’s readiness to make Lagos roads safer, more orderly, and efficient for all.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, reiterated Lagos State’s commitment to safer and smarter mobility, declaring open the 2025 LASTMA Ember Months Campaign, themed “Safe Roads, Safe Lives — LASTMA Cares.”
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Giwa said the campaign represents more than a yearly ritual — it underscores the state’s renewed human-centred traffic management focus under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
He noted that with over 4,100 LASTMA officers deployed across Lagos, the agency serves as the “silent economic engine” sustaining the state’s daily productivity.
According to him, by easing congestion and preventing gridlock, each officer saves an average of ₦85 million in man-hour losses annually, amounting to more than ₦430 billion in total economic value — a direct boost to Lagos’ ₦41 trillion GDP.
Highlighting the surge in road activity during the Ember months, he revealed that passenger inflow rises by about 30 per cent, putting immense pressure on the state’s road network. In response,
Giwa outlined a multi-layered safety strategy for 2025, including intensified advocacy in schools, markets, and parks; technology-driven enforcement using smart cameras and e-tickets; 24/7 rapid response teams; and closer inter-agency collaboration with police and other traffic bodies.
Giwa emphasised that LASTMA’s operations extend beyond enforcement to encompass compassion, welfare, and professionalism.
“Every officer who prevents an accident preserves a family’s future,” he said.
He said the state government has made arrangements for the agency to begin 24-hour operations from Thursday, January 2026, as part of efforts to support the Ember Month drive.
