The Lagos State Government has adopted advanced digital technology to improve emergency response, reduce road crashes and ease traffic gridlocks across the state.
This was disclosed by the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, during a comprehensive operational review held over the weekend.
Bakare-Oki said the strategic use of modern digital tools has changed how LASTMA responds to road accidents and traffic emergencies, helping officers arrive faster and save more lives on Lagos roads.
He explained that LASTMA has introduced several technologies, including surveillance drones, Traffic Management System (TMS) cameras, GPS-enabled patrol vehicles and troopers, intelligent communication systems, body cameras, a toll-free hotline, automated incident-detection platforms and a central command-and-control centre.
According to him, these tools now allow traffic incidents to be detected instantly, confirmed through digital feeds and quickly reported to the nearest patrol or rescue team.
“Our commitment to technological modernization is anchored on the imperative to safeguard human life, every minute saved in emergency response is invaluable. The deployment of intelligent systems has empowered our operatives to respond with unprecedented speed, precision and professional dexterity.” Bakare-Oki said.
He noted that before the introduction of these systems, LASTMA often faced challenges such as delayed reports and logistical problems, which slowed down response time. He said those challenges have now been reduced through real-time coordination enabled by technology.
The LASTMA boss also revealed that the agency’s Rescue Team, Monitoring and Surveillance Unit, comptrollers, commanders and zonal heads now use mobile data terminals and integrated communication tools that keep them constantly connected to the central command centre.
This, he said, makes it easier to divert traffic, work quickly with medical and security agencies, and clear accident scenes faster, reducing the risk of secondary accidents and long traffic jams.
Bakare-Oki added that predictive data analytics is also being used to study traffic patterns, accident-prone areas and congestion points. He said this helps LASTMA deploy officers ahead of busy periods to prevent incidents before they get out of control.
He described the investment in digital infrastructure as part of the government’s wider plan to build a smart, resilient and globally competitive city, stressing that the initiative shows a strong commitment to public safety and institutional growth.
Beyond faster emergency response, he said the new system has improved record-keeping, enforcement transparency and data-driven decision-making, as digital platforms now store detailed records of traffic incidents for future review and planning.
Reaffirming LASTMA’s core mission, Bakare-Oki said saving lives and managing traffic effectively remain top priorities, noting that quick emergency action also helps build public trust in government institutions.
“As we consolidate these achievements, our resolve remains unwavering, we shall continue to invest in technological innovation, capacity development and inter-agency collaboration to ensure Lagos roads remain safer, more orderly and optimally responsive to emergencies.” He said.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority urged motorists and residents to cooperate with its officers, obey traffic rules and support ongoing modernization efforts aimed at protecting lives and improving traffic flow across the state.
Lagos adopts technology to curb road crashes, gridlock
