The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says its technology-driven enforcement system recorded about 38,000 traffic violations across the state during the second quarter of 2026, underscoring the agency’s increasing reliance on digital surveillance to improve compliance with traffic regulations.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Lagos on Sunday, noting that the agency also arrested more than 3,000 motorists through conventional enforcement operations during the same period.
According to him, officers on the ground focused on motorists committing offences that impede the smooth flow of traffic, including indiscriminate parking, failure to use designated bus stops and other violations.
He explained that physical enforcement also targeted motorists caught driving against traffic, illegally using the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor and failing to comply with seat belt regulations.
Bakare-Oki said the agency is gradually shifting its enforcement strategy from manual operations to technology-based monitoring, which has significantly increased the number of traffic offenders detected.
“LASTMA is trying to move from physical enforcement to technology-driven enforcement, and that is why we captured more vehicles with technology in the second quarter of the year,” he said.
The LASTMA boss explained that once sufficient evidence is established against an offending motorist through the Traffic Management Solution devices, the agency serves the vehicle owner with court papers for prosecution.
“After the court papers, they were taken to the Lagos State Mobile Court. It is only the Mobile Court that has the right to convict or issue fines.
“Motorists who choose not to appear in court after receiving court papers may complete a waiver form in LASTMA’s Legal Department, relinquishing their right to litigation after paying the prescribed penalty.
“We encourage them to appear at the Lagos State Mobile Court to be given a fair hearing,” he said.
Bakare-Oki urged motorists to comply with traffic laws, stressing that adherence to road regulations remains essential to improving safety and reducing congestion across Lagos.
He also disclosed that the state government has commenced a coordinated enforcement and cleanup operation along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway following a directive issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the last monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
According to him, the exercise involves several government agencies working together to restore order and improve the condition of the major transport corridor.
“He ordered that all agencies concerned should clear the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
“The agencies include LASTMA, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline, the IRS Task Force, and the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment.
“This started last week. It is aimed at clearing trash, removing vehicles and other encumbrances from the road,” Bakare-Oki stated.
(Ripples)
