The Lagos State Government has disbursed ₦40 million in financial support to the families and dependants of 20 officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who died while carrying out their duties.

Each family received ₦2 million at a presentation ceremony held on Tuesday at the LASTMA headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos.

State officials said the payment was not compensation for loss of life but a symbolic show of appreciation for officers who died serving the public.

‘This is not compensation’

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said no amount of money could replace human life.

“This support is not compensation,” he said.

“It is an extra gesture by the governor to show appreciation for men and women who worked in very dangerous conditions and paid the ultimate price.”

Mr Giwa described traffic enforcement as a high-risk job, noting that officers face daily threats from aggressive drivers and unsafe road conditions.

He added that existing laws already provide benefits for civil servants who die in service, making the ₦40m payment an additional intervention by the state.

“This is also to thank the families for giving us their fathers, mothers and children to serve Lagos,” he said.

Why it matters

LASTMA officers are often on the front line of road safety enforcement in Nigeria’s busiest city, managing traffic congestion, accidents and law enforcement risks.

For families left behind, the loss is both emotional and financial.

Public policy experts say such gestures can help rebuild trust between government institutions and public servants, especially in high-risk sectors.

Government reassures officers

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, said the initiative reflects a people-centred approach to governance.

He said recognising sacrifice sends a strong message to serving officers.

“It assures those still in service that dedication and sacrifice will always be honoured and remembered,” he said.

LASTMA: ‘Their legacy lives on’

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, describing it as consistent and humane.

“These officers were patriots,” he said.

“Their discipline, courage and service will remain permanently written in the history of this agency.”

In a separate interview, Mr Bakare-Oki said LASTMA officers benefit from insurance coverage, medical support and special life insurance, describing the welfare package as among the best for paramilitary agencies in Nigeria.

He added that families of officers killed in the line of duty have previously received up to ₦10 million, alongside other benefits.

Safety, training and prevention

Mr Bakare-Oki said LASTMA has intensified training and retraining programmes over the past two years to reduce risks.

He said officers are taught how to approach vehicles safely and professionally, with emphasis on protecting lives including their own.

Voices from the families

Adding an emotional note, Mrs Angela Coker, widow of LASTMA’s pioneer General Manager, spoke directly to widows and widowers at the event.

She said she became a widow over 22 years ago and raised her children alone for over two decades.

“Be strong for your children,” she said.

“Talk to them, guide them, pray for them. God takes care of children.”

She encouraged families to use the financial support for education and long-term welfare.

‘We are grateful’

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Adeyemo Rotimi thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for remembering their families.

She said the gesture reassured them that their loved ones’ sacrifices had not been forgotten.

What’s next

State officials say Lagos will continue to review welfare packages for traffic officers, including long-term benefits and safety measures, to reduce fatalities and support families.

Emergency responders in Lagos have averted a potentially devastating fire after a diesel tanker crashed on Liverpool Bridge along the Mile 2 corridor in Apapa, with residents seen scooping the spilled fuel.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), working with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said the articulated Iveco tanker carrying diesel lost control and toppled on the bridge.

Officials said the impact damaged the tanker and caused a large volume of diesel to spill across the bridge and the area beneath it.

Authorities said the situation became extremely dangerous when residents and passers-by rushed to scoop the highly flammable fuel, increasing the risk of fire or explosion.

LASTMA said its operatives arrived swiftly, dispersed the crowd engaged in fuel scooping, cordoned off the area and activated inter-agency emergency response protocols.

The agency said the intervention “effectively neutralised the imminent threat of combustion and prevented what could have escalated into a devastating inferno”.

The tanker driver, who sustained serious injuries, was rescued by LASTMA officials and taken to the General Hospital in Apapa for urgent medical care.

Police officers from Area ‘B’ Command in Apapa were deployed to secure the scene, control the crowd and support traffic management efforts.

An empty tanker was later brought in to transfer the remaining diesel, while traffic was diverted to the opposite carriageway to ensure public safety and ease congestion.

Why it matters

Apapa is a critical commercial corridor, and tanker accidents in the area have previously resulted in deadly fires and major economic losses.

Safety experts say fuel scooping, often driven by hardship, puts lives at immediate risk and can trigger explosions with far-reaching environmental and infrastructural damage.

An urban safety analyst warned that diesel spills on bridges are particularly hazardous because fuel can spread quickly and ignite from minor sparks.

Government reaction

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, praised the rapid and coordinated response of emergency agencies.

“Their collective professionalism averted what could have culminated in another tragic fire disaster,” he said.

Mr Giwa also warned residents to stop scooping fuel at accident scenes involving diesel or petrol, describing the practice as reckless and life-threatening.

What’s next

LASTMA said monitoring continues in the area while investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.

The Lagos State Government reiterated its commitment to proactive traffic management, rapid emergency response and the protection of lives and public infrastructure.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has said a resurfaced social media video involving its officials and a ride-hailing driver is a misrepresentation of an incident that was resolved more than two years ago.

The agency said the video, currently circulating on X (formerly Twitter), falsely presents an old case as a fresh incident, raising concerns about misinformation and public perception.

What the video shows

The footage, shared by the handle @dammiedammi with the caption “God bless you”, shows a white woman giving money to an Uber or Taxify driver.

The post suggests the driver had been involved in an altercation with two LASTMA officials.

LASTMA, however, said the incident did not happen recently and should not be interpreted as a reflection of its current operations.

LASTMA’s response

In a statement signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, the agency said:

“The Authority states in unequivocal terms, that the incident portrayed in the viral footage is neither recent nor a reflection of recent happening.”

LASTMA said the case first became public on 11 February 2023, when it immediately attracted the attention of the agency.

What happened in 2023

According to LASTMA, a full investigation was launched at the time in line with its internal procedures.

“Consistent with LASTMA’s institutional ethos of transparency, equity and responsible conflict resolution, a comprehensive investigation was promptly instituted,” the statement said.

The agency said all officers identified in the footage were summoned and interrogated.

“Subsequently, all the identified LASTMA officials were summoned for a structured and thorough interrogations aimed at establishing the facts and fostering mutual understanding.”

Disciplinary action taken

LASTMA said disciplinary measures were taken where breaches were established.

“Sequel to the findings and where operational guidelines were observed in breach, the officials found culpable were disciplined in line with Public Service Rules (PSR) in the year 2023.”

The agency stressed that it does not tolerate actions that fall outside its official procedures.

“The management of the Agency does not trivialize anything that does not reflect the policy, procedure and laid down guidelines in its operations.”

Why LASTMA says the video is misleading

The authority described the renewed circulation of the video as regrettable and potentially harmful.

“The Authority therefore finds it both regrettable and misleading that a long-resolved case would resurfaced on social media, stripped of its context and presented as a fresh case.”

It warned that such framing could distort public understanding and unfairly damage institutional credibility.

Call to the public

LASTMA urged motorists and residents to ignore the recirculated footage.

“LASTMA accordingly urges members of the public particularly motorists and relevant stakeholders to disregard the recirculated video, as it bears no relevance to present realities.”

The agency added that public discourse should be guided by accuracy.

“Public engagement should be driven by truth and fairness, not by recycled content capable of stirring unnecessary backlash.”

Recent operations and public cooperation

LASTMA also thanked residents for their support during its intensified traffic operations.

“The Agency expresses its profound appreciation to members of the public, especially motorists for their sustained cooperation, support and compliance during the ‘LASTMA 24-HOUR NIGHT GANGS’ operations executed across the State throughout the 2025 ‘Detty December’ period.”

What’s next

The agency said it remains committed to humane traffic management and public enlightenment.

“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority remains steadfast in its unwavering commitment to professionalism, humane traffic regulation and continuous public enlightenment.”

Why it matters

Old videos presented as current events can mislead the public, damage trust in institutions, and inflame social tensions—especially in a city where traffic enforcement affects millions daily.