Lagos Traffic Radio hailed as lifeline for motorists, residents

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olanrewaju Bajulaiye, has described Lagos Traffic Radio as a reliable companion for motorists and residents navigating the ever-busy metropolis, reaffirming the station’s vital role in easing movement across the state.

Speaking during a working visit to the station, Bajulaiye commended the management and staff for their dedication and innovation, which have sustained the station’s growth and relevance over the years.

He urged the team to deepen collaboration and explore new ideas to enhance traffic information delivery to residents.

The Permanent Secretary, who was accompanied by the Director of Social Media, Dr. Jide Atansuyi, and the Director of the Strategy Centre, Mr. Kayode Oyekanmi, underscored the significance of Lagos as the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

He said the state’s traffic management efforts, spearheaded by Lagos Traffic Radio, play a crucial role in advancing the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus agenda.

According to him, Lagos stands out among global cities due to its scale and dynamism. “We must continue to open new frontiers so that even Nigerians in the diaspora can access real-time traffic updates from Lagos. What we are doing meets the needs and yearnings of the people, and we must sustain this progress,” he stated.

Welcoming the Permanent Secretary, the General Manager of Lagos Traffic Radio, Mr. Tayo Akanle, congratulated him on his appointment and redeployment to the Ministry, describing it as a fitting return to his professional roots.

Akanle outlined several reforms and innovations undertaken by the station over the past 13 years, aligning with the ‘T’ pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus agenda. These include the integration of traffic reports from waterways, rail lines, flight schedules, live camera feeds, and on-the-spot motorbike reports.

He added that the station has expanded its reach through the establishment of a booster station in Ikorodu, with another planned for the Ibeju-Lekki axis to strengthen its signal coverage.

Plans are also underway, he said, to scale up the number of live camera feeds from 300 to over 3,000 in partnership with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

Akanle further disclosed a remarkable growth in the station’s social media presence with Facebook followers rising from 4,000 in 2019 to 100,000, and its X (formerly Twitter) account growing from 15,000 to 55,000 followers.

He reaffirmed the station’s commitment to its core mission of providing real-time traffic information and travel advisory services to motorists within Lagos and neighbouring states.

The visit concluded with a facility tour led by Akanle, during which the Permanent Secretary and his team inspected the live studios, transmitter room, and the live motorbike reporting unit.