In this report, BENJAMIN ALADE examines the role technology plays in not only resolving logjam but also improving revenue generation for Lagos state.
The investments of the Lagos state government in technology appear to be finding positive expression in the activities of some of its agencies, especially in the management of people and services in the state.
Indeed, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) appears to have become innovative in managing the state transport system, especially in its rescue operations and apprehension of traffic offenders.
Against the archaic method previously deployed by its officers, which includes indiscriminate jumping into offenders’ vehicles or dragging of steering with drivers, LASTMA now banks on technology to do that efficiently.
With the total arrest of 20,000 offences recorded, the agency may have raked in about N840 million in penalties on different offences last year. A rough estimate of the offences shows that the agency rakes in an average of N840 million which could have been pooled from five major offences.
The money appears as a revenue-generating source for the state government, which attracts little interrogation from stakeholders.
The offences range from driving on the BRT lane, non-usage of a seatbelt, Illegal parking, picking and discharging passengers by commercial buses in unauthorised bus stops, willfully obstructing traffic and driving against traffic which is an automatic forfeiture of the vehicle to the government.
In the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, driving on the BRT lane costs N70,000, non-usage of seat belts N20,000, Illegal parking N20,000, picking and discharging passengers by commercial buses in authorised areas costs N50,000, willfully obstructing traffic is N50,000 and driving against traffic attracts forfeiture of vehicle.
Besides, LASTMA, as a government agency responsible for traffic control and management across the state, does not issue tickets to traffic offenders. Instead, it issues a ‘referral notice’, requiring offenders to appear before the Lagos State Mobile Courts.
The Lagos State Mobile Courts were primarily established to handle traffic-related offences. These courts are responsible for imposing fines on offenders, but only after substantial proof — such as pictorial or video evidence — is provided by the arresting officer(s).
Notably, offenders are allowed to also see the evidence of their violation while being arraigned at the Mobile Court.
LASTMA now boasts of a technology device – the Traffic Management Solution (TMS) – to apprehend traffic offenders in Lagos.
This technology has enabled LASTMA to effectively monitor and enforce traffic laws, resulting in a significant number of vehicles being caught for offences and subsequently generating funds for the state government.
Besides, the high number of vehicles captured is serving as a deterrent to drivers, who flout traffic laws without regard for other road users. Simply put, sanity is fast returning to Lagos roads.
Indeed, reeling out some of its accomplishments for 2024, with the aid of TMS, LASTMA valiantly salvaged 1,075 lives from the brink of road traffic catastrophes in 2024.
The agency addressed 2,051 road traffic incidents, encompassing 3,754 vehicles. These incidents were categorised as 143 fatal accidents, 502 severe accidents and 1,406 minor accidents.
This achievement underscores LASTMA’s pivotal role in curbing fatalities and mitigating the grievous repercussions of road mishaps.
In tandem with its accident response efforts, LASTMA resolved 5,108 cases of vehicular breakdowns, underscoring its operational dexterity and technical acumen. The breakdown cases comprised: 423 cars, 746 buses, 219 SUVs, 1,649 trucks, 400 tankers, 535 trailers and 1,118 others.
LASTMA’s prompt intervention ensured timely relief for stranded motorists, effectively averting potential traffic bottlenecks and secondary accidents.
As part of its commitment to fostering proactive public engagement and enhancing service delivery, LASTMA inaugurated a toll-free hotline (080000527862), enabling Lagosians to report traffic obstructions, vehicular breakdowns, emergencies, and the conduct of LASTMA personnel.
The hotline received 3,567 calls across multiple languages, including English, Pidgin, and Yoruba. Of these calls over 3,450 cases were expediently resolved while the remaining 117 cases were escalated for further attention.
Also, the launch of the Physical Complaint Centre (PCC) recorded 2,056 physical cases, of which 1,968 were successfully addressed, with 88 cases transferred for advanced resolution.
In 2023, LASTMA physically apprehended 22,927 vehicles, 15,025 of which were commercial vehicles. The figures showed a reduction of 6,103 for physically apprehended vehicles and 6,490 for commercial vehicles.
In 2022, the agency arraigned owners/drivers of 146 vehicles arrested across the state for various traffic offences, saying that the alleged offenders were being prosecuted before the State Environmental and Special Offences (Mobile Court).
According to the agency, 77 offenders are being prosecuted for One-Way Driving, five for Willful Obstruction, five for Illegal Parking, two for unpainted commercial vehicle, five for wrongful overtaking, four for driving on walkways/kerbs, six for BRT Obstructions, 10 for reckless and dangerous driving, four for picking/dropping passengers at undesignated bus stops and five for disobeying traffic control officers among others.
These pioneering platforms have significantly bolstered LASTMA’s capacity to respond swiftly to crises and address public grievances, further entrenching its reputation as a responsive and citizen-centric institution.
The commendable milestones achieved in 2024 embody LASTMA’s steadfast commitment to its mission of cultivating safer roads and an efficient traffic management system in Lagos state.
The agency remains resolute in harnessing advanced technology, fostering public collaboration and enhancing the proficiency of its personnel to deliver unparalleled traffic management services.
General Manager, LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended heartfelt appreciation to the general public particularly the motoring public for their unwavering cooperation and reiterated LASTMA’s resolve to uphold its dedication to excellence in service delivery.
Speaking with The Guardian, Bakare-Oki, said over the year 2024 the agency has been able to carry out successful capacity building for its staff at all cadres.
He said the agency embarked on training and retraining plus massive orientation of our men so we can be able to bring out the best in them and this training ranges from different categories.
Speaking on the apprehension, he said: “We have the apprehension in two categories. The physical apprehension is 16,824 while 2051 traffic road traffic crashes were cleared in the year 2024.
“A total of 5,108 breakdowns of different types of vehicles, cars, SUVs, trailers, tankers, buses and other major traffic incidents. Out of the 16,824 vehicles apprehended more than, close to 9,000 vehicles were commercial buses,” he said.
Bakare-Oki said the purpose of the establishment of LASTMA is not revenue generation organisation but to manage traffic flow and work towards voluntary compliance and that has been part of our achievements.
“We did a lot of public aggressive enlightenment, traffic advocacy, which was what led to the female elite corps. Our women were used as a major part of the advocacy. They go to parks, garages and streets across the state to engage religious bodies to preach the traffic gospel and also there is school traffic advocacy.
“It is a different department officially where LASTMA officials will go to private and public primary and secondary schools to talk about traffic rules and regulations to children in schools.”
He mentioned that there are categories of offences ranging from one-way, driving on BRT lane, non-usage of seat belts, illegal parking, and picking and discharging passengers by commercial buses in authorized bus stops.
