- Targets crash reduction on Otedola Bridge, Coastal Road, others
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has unveiled a comprehensive traffic management strategy ahead of the December festive season, with a renewed focus on road safety advocacy, crash reduction and improved traffic flow, especially on Otedola Bridge Coastal Road and others across the state.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this during the annual media parley organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA.
Bakare-Oki said LASTMA has evolved beyond its traditional role as a traffic control agency into a modern traffic management institution committed to road safety, stakeholder engagement and rapid response to traffic incidents.
He said the agency would intensify safety campaigns and engagements with commercial transport operators, haulage companies and fleet owners as part of efforts to reduce road crashes during the festive period.
“Lagos occupies less than one per cent of Nigeria’s total landmass, approximately 0.4 per cent, yet it has one of the highest concentrations of vehicles in West Africa. Managing such a high volume of traffic within a limited road network presents enormous challenges,” he said.
“Our responsibility is to ensure seamless traffic flow while reducing crashes and saving lives.”
The LASTMA boss identified some major corridors experiencing rising traffic incidents, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway axis from Otedola Bridge through Kara, the Coastal Road, Third Mainland Bridge and Ikorodu Road.
According to him, the Otedola Bridge at the Kara corridor remains a major area of concern, with more than 361 vehicle breakdowns and traffic-related incidents recorded between January and September this year, leading to about 15 fatalities.
He added that the recent joint inspection of the corridor by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos and the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation was aimed at identifying the causes of recurring crashes and developing lasting solutions.
Bakare-Oki said similar assessments would be extended to other accident-prone routes, particularly the Coastal Road, where more than 800 reported and observed traffic incidents have occurred from January till date, resulting in about 17 deaths.
“Human lives cannot be quantified, so we remain committed to reducing these avoidable losses,” he stated.
On preparations for the December celebrations, the LASTMA General Manager said the agency has strengthened its operational strategy to manage increased vehicular movement across the State.
He disclosed that special attention would be given to high-traffic locations such as Ikoyi, Victoria Island and the Lekki-Ajah corridor, where increased movement is expected during the festive period.
He further announced the deployment of LASTMA personnel for overnight operations between 10:00pm and 6:00am to ensure safer movement and improved traffic management during night-time activities.
Bakare-Oki assured residents and visitors that the agency would remain proactive in managing traffic challenges while working with relevant stakeholders to make Lagos roads safer during the festive season.