LASTMA Deploys 1,700 Officers for Round-the-Clock Traffic Monitoring

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has rolled out a 24-hour traffic monitoring operation with the deployment of 1,700 officers across the state.

The initiative, tagged Operation Ember Months Stability, was disclosed by LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos.

According to Bakare-Oki, the officers are stationed across the state’s five divisions, focusing on major routes with heavy vehicular movement. He explained that the agency began full-scale 24-hour traffic management about seven weeks ago.

To strengthen operations, LASTMA recently deployed an additional 850 officers to the Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki-Ajah corridors, bringing the total number of personnel in those areas to 1,700. The officers operate in three shifts: morning (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), afternoon (2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.), and night (9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).

Bakare-Oki said the agency has also mobilized about 800 traffic management tools, including channelizers, barriers, traffic lights, batteries and reflective jackets.

He noted that the 24-hour monitoring has improved response time to traffic incidents, especially during late-night and early-morning hours, leading to quicker removal of obstructions and reduced travel time for residents.

The LASTMA Rescue and Emergency Department, he added, has intensified patrols on major routes, ensuring that traffic disruptions are promptly cleared between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.