Thursday, July 17, 2025 - The Lagos State Government has announced plans to reinstate psychiatric assessments for traffic offenders in a renewed effort to enhance discipline and road safety.
Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on
Transportation, made the disclosure on Wednesday, July 16, during the
presentation of the communiqué from the second Lagos Traffic Conference, which
coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Lagos State Traffic Management
Authority (LASTMA).
Giwa said the move followed strategic deliberations and
recommendations aimed at improving traffic management in Lagos and
strengthening LASTMA’s effectiveness and credibility.
“For the mental health assessment of offenders, the agency
should reintroduce psychiatric evaluation for those caught driving against
traffic,” Giwa said.
He noted that the policy is consistent with previous road
safety strategies aimed at deterring errant drivers and promoting responsible
road use. Giwa also revealed that LASTMA officers would undergo international
training to align with global best practices in traffic management.
Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, highlighted
the agency’s 20-year blueprint for a technology-driven traffic system. He said
LASTMA had begun compiling comprehensive data on traffic incidents, including
road crashes, to support informed government planning.
“This deliberate approach gives us a credible database that
allows the government to plan better and make informed decisions,” he said.
Bakare-Oki added that the blueprint includes plans to
improve the welfare of LASTMA officers to enhance performance. He pointed to
the increasing deployment of Information Technology Systems (ITS) across Lagos,
including monitoring tools around Allen Roundabout and surveillance cameras
installed on the Third Mainland Bridge and in the Alapere area.
“The ITS tools monitor, control, and enforce traffic
behaviour in real time,” he said.
He explained that the cameras were introduced to control
speed and improve safety following reports of road rage after the
rehabilitation of the bridge. “Since deploying the cameras, road crashes on
that stretch have declined,” he added.
Bakare-Oki stressed that the initiative is not intended for
revenue generation but to protect lives and property. He assured residents of
forthcoming improvements in LASTMA’s operations.
Ayodeji Gbeleyi, Director General of the Bureau of Public
Enterprises, congratulated LASTMA on its anniversary, describing the agency as
a model of traffic management in Nigeria. Represented by Nonso Okechukwu,
Gbeleyi encouraged LASTMA to deepen collaboration with private transport
operators in line with state policies
He also pledged the Bureau’s support in offering policy
direction, public-private partnership advisory, and institutional guidance to
achieve Lagos State’s vision of a smarter, safer city.
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