Bakare-Oki Commends Media Support to LASTMA in 2025, Seeks Stronger Partnership in New Year

Bakare-Oki Commends Media Support to LASTMA in 2025, Seeks Stronger Partnership in New Year

The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has lauded media practitioners for their sustained support and professionalism in projecting the agency’s activities throughout 2025, describing the collaboration as vital to public confidence and effective traffic management in Lagos State.

Bakare-Oki gave the commendation over the weekend during a review of LASTMA’s engagement with the media, noting that journalists across print, broadcast and digital platforms have consistently demonstrated objectivity, civic responsibility and professionalism in their coverage of the agency’s operations, policies and interventions.

According to him, feedback from the media—reflecting public opinion, expert analysis and stakeholder perspectives—has been largely constructive and insightful, contributing significantly to policy refinement, improved operational strategies and evidence-based decision-making within the agency.

“The media has remained an indispensable partner in our public enlightenment and behavioural reorientation mandate. Beyond information dissemination, the analytical depth and constructive critiques offered by media practitioners have enhanced our institutional thinking and reform processes,” Bakare-Oki said.

He also highlighted the inauguration of journalists as LASTMA Media Mayors, describing the initiative as a progressive engagement strategy that has given media practitioners firsthand insight into traffic management operations across the state.

“The Media Mayors initiative has strengthened transparency, deepened stakeholder engagement, boosted public trust and promoted informed discourse on traffic management challenges and solutions,” he added.

Looking ahead to the new operational year, the LASTMA boss stressed that the growing complexities of urban mobility in Lagos require an even stronger and more strategic partnership with the media, particularly in driving behavioural change, promoting voluntary compliance with traffic laws and ensuring timely dissemination of traffic information to road users.

Bakare-Oki also disclosed that during the 2025 “Detty December” festivities, over 1,800 personnel were deployed under the LASTMA 24-Hour Night Gangs initiative to monitor and regulate vehicular movement round the clock. He said the initiative helped ease congestion on major routes, reduced night-time traffic violations and significantly improved road safety during the festive period.

He emphasized that effective traffic governance in a megacity like Lagos depends on a synergy of efficient enforcement, public cooperation and responsible media engagement, adding that sustainable success is rooted in collective responsibility.

Bakare-Oki reaffirmed LASTMA’s commitment to transparency, professionalism and stakeholder engagement, expressing optimism that the new year will usher in a deeper and more impactful partnership with the media to promote safer, more orderly and efficient road usage across Lagos State.