By Adebayo Taofiq
In an illustrious testament to institutional excellence, administrative innovation, and an unwavering devotion to public safety, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been adjudged the “Overall Best State Traffic Management Agency of the Year 2025” at the recently concluded Nigeria Transport and Logistics Leadership Summit and Awards, organized by the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
This prestigious national honour represents a resounding validation of LASTMA’s extraordinary impact in the realms of traffic regulation, public enlightenment, and emergency response an achievement credited to the astute and strategic leadership of its General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki.
It situates the Authority not merely as a Lagos-based institution, but as a national archetype in urban traffic governance and modern road administration.
The recognition mirrors the revolutionary transformation LASTMA has undergone in recent years under Mr. Bakare-Oki’s visionary stewardship. What once stood as a conventional enforcement agency has evolved into a digitally driven, intelligence-led, and citizen-focused institution an exemplar of modern public sector reform.
Through deliberate restructuring, operational optimization, and innovative management philosophies, LASTMA has instituted a paradigm shift that harmonizes efficiency with empathy, enforcement with education, and authority with accountability.
Mr. Bakare-Oki’s leadership ethos has cultivated a renewed culture of professionalism, discipline, and public engagement among LASTMA officers, making the Authority a beacon of credibility and civic trust.
The national award thus symbolizes not only institutional success but also the triumph of foresight, discipline, and collective dedication to service excellence.
The Cornerstone of Recognition
LASTMA’s distinction at the NITT Awards is deeply rooted in its bold embrace of technology and modern traffic management methodology.
The Authority’s real-time traffic monitoring systems, Body-Worn Cameras for field operatives, Traffic Management Solutions (TMS), Use of drones devices and integrated digital communication platforms have revolutionized incident detection and response across Lagos’ intricate road networks.
These innovations, combined with a vibrant regime of public enlightenment campaigns notably the School Traffic Advocacy Initiative and the Ember Months Safety Awareness Programme have redefined road-user education and significantly mitigated preventable crashes through voluntary compliance.
The Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT)—a foremost national authority in transport education, research, and standardization undertook an exhaustive performance evaluation encompassing operational effectiveness, safety interventions, public participation, innovation, and inter-agency synergy.
LASTMA’s stellar performance across all indices merited its emergence as the overall best State Traffic Management Agency.
This recognition also underscores LASTMA’s alignment with Nigeria’s broader transport development agenda and its sustained collaboration with key partners such as the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), LASEMA, LASAMBUS, SEHMU, FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE, and Media. Such cross-agency cooperation has strengthened Lagos’ capacity for real-time emergency response, traffic decongestion, and urban mobility planning.
Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki lauded the unwavering diligence and professionalism of LASTMA personnel, acknowledging that their resilience under often-challenging operational conditions remains the bedrock of the Agency’s success.
He equally expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his unrelenting support, which has provided the institutional framework for innovation, discipline, and performance excellence.
According to him, the award signifies not a culmination but a renewed mandate for excellence, reaffirming LASTMA’s dedication to public service, technological advancement, and road safety enlightenment.
LASTMA’s emergence at the national forefront illuminates its critical role within the Lagos transport ecosystem. Through data-driven traffic intelligence, strategic public sensitization, and officer capacity development, the Authority continues to elevate standards in urban mobility management.
Its proactive interventions have substantially curtailed traffic congestion, enhanced commuter safety, and optimized emergency coordination throughout the metropolis.
Equally commendable is the Authority’s sustained investment in human capital development through training, retraining, and ethical reorientation which has refined officers’ professionalism, empathy, and service delivery ethos.
Consequently, LASTMA stands today as a benchmark institution for other States aspiring to strengthen their traffic management frameworks.
While this national honour celebrates an illustrious chapter in LASTMA’s history, it simultaneously heralds a future of sustained innovation and higher performance benchmarks.
The Authority remains resolute in its mission to leverage technology, stakeholder collaboration, and civic engagement to ensure safer, smoother, and more orderly traffic flow across Lagos State.
Indeed, being crowned the Overall Best State Traffic Management Agency of 2025 is not merely an accolade it is a clarion call to deepen excellence, uphold discipline, and sustain a shared vision that road safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Through its exemplary strides, LASTMA continues to affirm that disciplined traffic management is not only vital to urban prosperity but also indispensable to the broader pursuit of public order, safety, and collective well-being.
Adebayo Taofiq
Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA
