LASTMA officers save Lagos ₦430bn yearly in Man-Hour losses

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State’s traffic management efforts have been credited with saving the state over ₦430 billion in man-hours annually, according to Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation.

Speaking at the official flag-off of the 2025 Ember Month Safety Campaign of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Giwa described the agency as a vital pillar of Lagos’ economy, ensuring productivity through efficient traffic control and disciplined road use.

The event, themed “Safe Roads, Safe Lives-LASTMA Cares”, took place at LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi, with top government officials, security agencies, and transport stakeholders in attendance.

Giwa revealed that each of the agency’s 4,100 officers helps prevent economic losses estimated at ₦85 million annually through proactive traffic management, timely clearance of gridlocks, and accident prevention.

“Our LASTMA officers are not just enforcers of traffic laws; they are economic stabilisers,” Giwa said, adding that “Every hour they recover from gridlock is an hour returned to productivity, and every accident they prevent is a life preserved.”

He stressed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration remains fully committed to road safety, traffic discipline, and the welfare of Lagosians, especially during the Ember Months, a period marked by increased travel and commercial activities.

Giwa outlined five strategic pillars for the 2025 campaign: Advocacy and Sensitisation, Empathetic Enforcement, Enhanced Field Deployment, Inter-Agency Collaboration, and Preventive Education.

He urged motorists to embrace patience and discipline, warning that road safety must become a cultural habit rather than a seasonal concern.

In his remarks, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, reaffirmed the agency’s goal of achieving Zero Accidents, Zero Fatalities, and Zero Excuses throughout the Ember Months.

He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s investment in digital tools such as drone surveillance, body cameras, and improved emergency logistics to strengthen LASTMA’s operations.

The ceremony also featured a drama presentation by students under the “Catch Them Young” School Traffic Advocacy Programme, alongside participation from the FRSC, Nigerian Army, Police, LASAMBUS, LASDRI, NURTW, NARTO, RETEAN, LETI, Traffic Radio, and LBSL.