The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) is stepping up preparations for the Ember Months with a 24-hour traffic management strategy aimed at clearing crashes, vehicle breakdowns and other obstructions faster as traffic volumes rise across the state.

The authority said the intensified operation would focus on major highways, bridges, interchanges, transport terminals, commercial areas and other locations expected to experience heavy traffic during the festive period.

The plan will also involve closer coordination with emergency and security agencies as Lagos prepares for increased movement of residents, visitors and commercial vehicles in the final months of the year.

Faster response to crashes, breakdowns

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the agency would reposition personnel and specialised response teams at congestion-prone locations to improve traffic surveillance and shorten response times.

The strategy will combine real-time traffic monitoring, intersection control, corridor management and rapid obstruction clearance.

Particular attention will be given to incidents involving broken-down vehicles, road crashes, illegal parking, indiscriminate loading and off-loading and other obstructions that can quickly disrupt traffic flow.

Bakare-Oki said the authority would also strengthen its incident-management and diversion systems.

Where crashes or disabled vehicles obstruct carriageways, LASTMA said its teams would work to have them evacuated promptly to reduce the risk of secondary congestion and crashes.

Tactical diversions and temporary traffic-control measures may also be introduced where necessary to keep traffic moving.

“Seamless festive mobility requires the convergence of professional traffic management, technological intelligence, inter-agency coordination and responsible road-user behaviour.” Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA General Manager

LASTMA seeks stronger agency coordination

The traffic authority said the scale of movement expected during the festive period would require closer cooperation between agencies responsible for traffic management, security and emergency response.

LASTMA plans to deepen operational collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos Ambulance Service Agency (LASA) and Lagos State Fire & Rescue Service.

Transport unions and other relevant stakeholders are also expected to participate in the coordinated response.

The objective is to improve accident evacuation, traffic control and emergency response while limiting the time incidents remain on major roads.

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What motorists need to do

LASTMA urged motorists to exercise greater caution during the Ember Months and comply with traffic regulations.

It specifically warned against speeding, reckless overtaking, driving against traffic, illegal parking and indiscriminate loading or off-loading.

The authority also cautioned against practices that obstruct traffic lanes or create conditions capable of causing road crashes.

For motorists planning long-distance journeys, LASTMA advised carrying out basic vehicle safety checks before departure.

Braking systems, tyres, lights and other critical vehicle components should be checked to reduce the likelihood of breakdowns on busy roads.

How Lagos motorists can report traffic incidents

LASTMA encouraged residents to report road crashes, vehicle breakdowns, obstructions and other traffic incidents through its toll-free short-code hotline 3367.

The agency said early reports would help its teams respond more quickly and reduce the amount of time incidents remain on the road.

The announcement comes as Lagos prepares for the period traditionally associated with increased movement, commercial activity and inter-state travel.

For motorists, the effectiveness of the operation will depend not only on the deployment of LASTMA personnel but also on how quickly incidents are cleared and how consistently road users comply with traffic rules.

LASTMA said it remained committed to maintaining safe and efficient traffic circulation across Lagos throughout the Ember Months and festive season.

Three officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been recognised for their contributions to traffic management and public service in Lagos.

The officers — Ajayi Bembe Babatunde, Zonal Head, Zone B; Adebanjo Alade, Comptroller, Apapa; and Age Luqman, Zonal Head, Bariga/Iyana-Oworo — received the Award of Outstanding Exemplary Performance from City Herald Magazine.

The presentation took place at the LASTMA headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos, bringing together officials of the traffic agency and representatives of the magazine.

Recognition comes amid demanding traffic duties

The recognition focuses attention on the frontline role played by LASTMA officers in managing traffic across one of Nigeria’s busiest urban environments.

Traffic officials routinely work in congested areas to regulate vehicle movement, respond to road incidents and support efforts to improve road safety.

According to City Herald Magazine, the three officers were selected for their commitment to duty, professional conduct and contribution to the discharge of LASTMA’s responsibilities.

The organisers said the recognition was intended to highlight public officers whose work contributes to institutional objectives and the wider public interest.

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LASTMA management reacts

LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki welcomed the recognition, thanking City Herald Magazine for identifying officers within the agency for their performance.

He said the award affirmed the efforts of personnel who work under demanding conditions to facilitate traffic management, promote road safety and improve the motoring experience in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki also said recognising individual performance could strengthen LASTMA’s emphasis on professionalism, accountability and discipline.

“Excellence in public service is not merely measured by the assumption of responsibility, but by the quality, integrity and measurable impact of its execution.”

— Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA General Manager»

He commended the three recipients for their dedication and said the recognition should encourage other officers to remain committed to public service.

What the award means for public service

While the recognition is an award from a private media organisation rather than a government performance assessment, it highlights the importance of frontline public-service work in Lagos.

For residents and motorists, the effectiveness of traffic management can affect daily commuting, road safety and the movement of people and goods across the state.

The ceremony therefore places the spotlight not only on the three officers but also on the wider workforce responsible for LASTMA’s day-to-day operations.

City Herald Magazine said the award was aimed at encouraging values including professional probity, operational excellence and commitment to the public good.

The three officers

Ajayi Bembe Babatunde serves as Zonal Head of LASTMA’s Zone B, while Adebanjo Alade is the Comptroller for Apapa.

Age Luqman is the Zonal Head for the Bariga/Iyana-Oworo axis.

The agency said their recognition reflected their respective commitment to carrying out their statutory responsibilities.

The award ceremony was held at LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned children, teenagers and young adults against using roller-skate shoes and other wheeled footwear on highways, bridges and other roads used by motor vehicles.

The warning comes amid concerns that recreational use of shoes fitted with concealed or retractable wheels could put young users in the path of moving vehicles, especially when they skate alongside traffic or cross busy roads.

LASTMA said public roads are designed for the movement of vehicles and other traffic, making them unsuitable for recreational skating.

Why LASTMA is concerned

According to the authority, roads present unpredictable conditions because motorists, motorcycles, pedestrians and other road users are moving simultaneously.

It said people using wheeled footwear may have less time and space to react when vehicles change direction, stop suddenly or enter their path.

LASTMA particularly warned against skating on highways, expressways, bridges, service lanes and other places where vehicular traffic is permitted.

The authority advised parents, guardians, schools and caregivers to ensure children and other vulnerable road users do not use such footwear for recreation in traffic corridors.

Where should skating take place?

LASTMA urged users of rolling skate shoes and similar devices to restrict recreational activities to designated skating or recreational areas, private compounds and other locations that are separated from moving traffic.

It also recommended appropriate protective equipment, including helmets, knee pads and elbow pads.

The warning extends beyond children, with LASTMA calling on teenagers and young adults to recognise the risks associated with using wheeled footwear around moving vehicles.

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Motorists also have a role

While urging young people to stay away from traffic corridors, LASTMA called on motorists to remain alert around children and other vulnerable road users.

The authority said particular care should be taken in residential areas, estates and school zones, where children may unexpectedly enter the traffic stream.

The advice places road safety responsibility on both sides: vulnerable road users should avoid unnecessary exposure to traffic, while motorists should remain vigilant in areas where children are likely to be present.

LASTMA urges quick reporting of hazards

The agency also asked members of the public to report dangerous traffic situations, road obstructions, crashes, vehicle breakdowns and other incidents requiring traffic-management intervention.

Reports can be made through LASTMA’s toll-free short code 767, according to the authority.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said road safety requires vigilance, discipline and recognition of the risks associated with public roads.

The authority reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and promoting safer road-user behaviour across Lagos State.

What the warning means for families

For parents and caregivers, the central message is to separate recreational skating from normal traffic.

Children and young people using wheeled footwear should have a safe, traffic-free environment for the activity, while motorists are expected to exercise additional caution around areas where vulnerable road users are likely to be present.

The warning highlights a wider road-safety issue in Lagos: recreational activities that may appear harmless can become dangerous when they take place within spaces designed primarily for motorised traffic.