Bakare-Oki’s Leadership Reshaping LASTMA Through Professionalism, Technology, Accountability

 Bakare-Oki’s Leadership Reshaping LASTMA Through Professionalism, Technology, Accountability

By Adebayo Taofiq

The leadership of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) under its General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, is driving a new approach to traffic management centred on professionalism, technology, accountability and improved public service.

In a commentary on the administration’s emerging legacy, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, said Bakare-Oki’s tenure is focused on transforming LASTMA beyond conventional traffic enforcement into a modern, intelligence-driven and service-oriented agency.

Lagos, with its dense network of roads, bridges and arterial corridors and millions of daily journeys, requires traffic management that goes beyond directing vehicles and apprehending traffic offenders.

According to Taofiq, Bakare-Oki’s approach recognises traffic management as a critical public-service function linked to mobility, economic productivity, road safety and the protection of lives.

Focus on Professionalism and Officer Development

A major component of the ongoing reforms is the professional development of LASTMA personnel.

Officers are increasingly expected to combine traffic enforcement skills with knowledge of crisis management, communication, emotional intelligence, ethical conduct, human-rights principles and the psychology of road users.

The objective, Taofiq noted, is to reposition the LASTMA officer as more than an enforcement agent, but also as an ambassador of government, a custodian of public safety and a first responder during emergencies.

This approach places greater emphasis on how officers interact with motorists and other road users, recognising that such encounters can significantly influence public perception of government.

Technology Takes Centre Stage

Technology has also become an increasingly important part of LASTMA’s operations under Bakare-Oki.

The agency is deploying tools including surveillance cameras, drones, Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices, patrol vehicles, body-worn cameras and command-and-control systems to strengthen traffic monitoring and response.

Another notable development is the agency’s toll-free short code, 3367, which provides members of the public with a direct channel for submitting complaints, feedback and commendations.

The initiative, according to Taofiq, has strengthened accountability while encouraging officers to maintain greater professionalism and civility in their dealings with the public.

The broader technological strategy is intended to move LASTMA from largely reactive enforcement towards intelligence-led traffic management, allowing the agency to identify incidents, mobilise personnel and deploy resources more efficiently.

Lives Saved Through Emergency Intervention

Beyond enforcement statistics, the administration has also highlighted the humanitarian dimension of LASTMA’s responsibilities.

Taofiq cited the agency’s reported 2024 interventions, including 1,075 lives rescued, 2,051 crashes involving 3,754 vehicles attended to, and more than 5,100 vehicular breakdowns addressed.

He argued that the significance of these interventions extends beyond statistics, as prompt responses to road crashes and breakdowns can prevent further casualties, reduce congestion and protect families from potentially devastating losses.

Accountability and Discipline

The article also highlighted the importance of accountability within a traffic enforcement institution.

Given the discretionary powers exercised by traffic officers, Taofiq said integrity, discipline and respect for citizens must remain central to the agency’s operations.

He noted that Bakare-Oki has maintained a firm position against corruption and professional misconduct, with supervisory and disciplinary mechanisms being strengthened to ensure that officers are held accountable for their conduct.

The underlying principle, he said, is that institutional integrity must be reflected in the everyday actions of individual officers.

Collaboration and Public Enlightenment

The emerging LASTMA strategy also places emphasis on collaboration with stakeholders including the police, emergency response agencies, transport unions, community leaders, infrastructure agencies and the media.

Taofiq particularly cited the LASTMA Media Mayors initiative as an effort to deepen public understanding of traffic management by equipping journalists with better knowledge of the agency’s responsibilities and operations.

Through improved engagement with the media and other stakeholders, the agency hopes to strengthen communication between LASTMA and the motoring public.

What Will Bakare-Oki Leave Behind?

According to Taofiq, the ultimate measure of Bakare-Oki’s tenure will not simply be the number of traffic violations enforced or roads cleared, but whether the reforms introduced during his leadership become sustainable institutional practices.

He identified professionalism, technological innovation, accountability, emergency response and public trust as key indicators that could determine the lasting impact of the administration.

If these reforms become embedded in LASTMA’s institutional culture, Taofiq argued, Bakare-Oki’s contribution would extend beyond his tenure and represent a broader effort at institution-building.

For Lagos, where efficient mobility is closely connected to economic productivity and quality of life, he said every successfully managed traffic corridor, promptly attended emergency and professionally equipped officer contributes to a more effective relationship between government and citizens.

The emerging Bakare-Oki legacy, therefore, is being framed not merely as a story of traffic enforcement, but as an attempt to reposition LASTMA for the mobility challenges of a rapidly evolving megacity.