Sanwo-Olu vows to prosecute attackers of LASTMA officers

July 15, 2025

By Ayinde Adeleke

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured that attackers of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers will face the full weight of the law.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, made this declaration at the second Lagos Traffic Conference, held to commemorate LASTMA’s Silver Jubilee celebration.

The governor praised LASTMA officers for their dedication to keeping Lagos moving, often under challenging circumstances.

He said, “I want to specially recognise the men and women of LASTMA who have dedicated themselves, often under challenging and sometimes perilous circumstances, to the critical task of keeping Lagos moving. Your uniform represents the thin yellow line that stands firmly between order and chaos on our roads.”

Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged the bravery of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

He emphasized that LASTMA would be equipped with technology, including intelligent transportation systems powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), automated number plate recognition, and drone surveillance, to enhance traffic management and incident response.

The Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, highlighted the importance of finding solutions to traffic challenges.

He said, “The celebration is not for lofty literates but for solutions. Officers of LASTMA are on the streets of the state, not only to clear bottlenecks but also to save lives during accidents, coordinate disaster response, and facilitate the seamless movement of goods and services.”

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, unveiled the agency’s 20-year policy compendium, which would serve as operational guidelines for the authority. The highlight of the celebration was the presentation of monetary gifts to winners of the Lagos State Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme.

Mr. Sridhar Uttara, President of Infotran, a U.S. engineering consulting firm, recommended that Lagos build a Unified Mobility Control Centre and expand its Information Technology System on priority corridors.