Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed state-of-theart Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance traffic management, strengthen security surveillance and reinforce public safety across Lagos metropolis. General manager of the authority, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who made this known in a statement in Lagos, said the transition from traditional analog method to advanced digital intelligence harmonised with the visionary mandate of the state government.
He said the move “accentuates the administration’s steadfast dedication to leveraging innovation in pursuit of sustainable urban mobility, heightened safety and operational excellence. “Through aerial reconnaissance and high-definition monitoring capabilities, the UAVs will empower LASTMA to be proactive in traffic management and control across the state.
“The deployment of device signifies a watershed moment in Lagos’ traffic management ecosystem, seamlessly elevating the authority from conventional reactive enforcement to predictive, intelligence-driven operations.” Bakare-Oki said the drones would provide real-time aerial oversight, enabling swifter interventions, improved safety outcomes, augmented emergency response coordination, bolstered security frameworks, and the cultivation of a more disciplined motoring culture.
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance traffic management, strengthen security surveillance and reinforce public safety across Lagos metropolis. General manager of the authority, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who made this known in a statement in Lagos, said the transition from traditional analog method to advanced digital intelligence harmonised with the visionary mandate of the state government.
He said the move “accentuates the administration’s steadfast dedication to leveraging innovation in pursuit of sustainable urban mobility, heightened safety and operational excellence. “Through aerial reconnaissance and highdefinition monitoring capabilities, the UAVs will empower LASTMA to be proactive in traffic management and control across the state.
“The deployment of device signifies a watershed moment in Lagos’ traffic management ecosystem, seamlessly elevating the authority from conventional reactive enforcement to predictive, intelligence-driven operations.” Bakare-Oki said the drones would provide real-time aerial oversight, enabling swifter interventions, improved safety outcomes, augmented emergency response coordination, bolstered security frameworks, and the cultivation of a more disciplined motoring culture.
He reassured the public that the deployment would be conducted under stringent adherence to privacy safeguards, ethical standards and LASTMA moves to address Lagos traffic challenges with drones regulatory compliance, thereby reinforcing public trust in the system’s transparency and integrity. “The authority reaffirms its unwavering resolve to continuously innovate in traffic management, reduce travel times, curtail road traffic mishaps, and preserve lives and property throughout Lagos State,” he said.
The Lagos State government had in February this year deployed four new Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) sites in four locations in the state. According the government, the move decision was aimed at improving road safety and streamlining traffic management, the The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi made the announcement during a press briefing Ikeja.
He said the new ITS sites would complement existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and other Traffic Management Solutions (TMS), which would reinforce the state’s commitment to creating a safer and more efficient transportation network. Osiyemi explained that the ITS was divided into two main categories, focusing on checkpoint sites for speed monitoring and e-police sites for detecting traffic violations.
He said the checkpoints had been installed at Alapere (80 km/h speed limit) and Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way (60 km/h speed limit) with the aim to curb over-speeding, a major contributor to accidents. He added that e-police sites had been installed at Allen Avenue junction and Nurudeen Olowopopo Road, equipped with high-definition cameras to monitor violations such as running red lights, lane indiscipline, illegal U-turns, and reverse driving on highways.
Also, the state Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake said the ITS would address traffic-related issues such as over speeding, indiscipline on the road through a technology-driven approach, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision for a smarter, safer, and more sustainable Lagos. He applauded the state government for delivering the ITS which he said would reduce human intervention, create positive transportation outcomes and also ensure quality road transportation that is safe for all.
Known for its vibrant culture, busy and crowded markets, as well as significant economic activities, the Nigerian commercial capital has continued to experience heavy traffic congestion, frustrating residents and impacting business, especially during peak hours. Traffic congestion in Lagos, over the years, has been a major concern for the state government, investors and workers. Public servants had at various occasions lamented wasted productive hours on traffic, as well as accompanied frustration by families whose breadwinners and other loved ones hardly spend time with relatives at home due to holdups on the road after close of work.
A businessman, Henry Okpala noted that “Lagos traffic is something else, especially when I go to the island for site installation work. The traffic while coming to the mainland usually changes my system automatically, discomfort comes, and most of the time, you will be trying to meet a deadline, and traffic would just spoil everything.” Road congestion in the commercial city gets to the peak from 6am to 10am, and 4pm 9pm, as a result of large number of commuters moving to and from work and other destinations.
Other factors contributing to the ugly situation include human negligence leading to accidents, vehicle breakdowns, roadworks, careless drivering, and bad roads. The director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, had Adebayo Taofiq attributed the root cause of traffic congestion in Lagos to fragmented and poorly coordinated informal transport systems, frequent vehicle breakdowns, especially heavy-duty trucks, and frequent violations of traffic laws, including illegal parking, driving against traffic, and the indiscriminate picking and dropping of passengers at unauthorised locations.
“Street trading, roadside markets, and the indiscriminate loading and offloading of goods, especially during peak hours, encroachment on active roadways, significantly reducing carriageway capacity contribute immensely to congestion. “Many neighbourhoods depend heavily on a limited number of major arterial roads. Consequently, any obstruction, whether due to accidents, breakdowns, or roadworks, inevitably leads to severe gridlock due to the absence of viable alternate routes,” Taofiq said. However, it is believed that the deployment of gadgets like drones to address the menace is a catalyst in bringing the years-long experience to a halt.
