The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) today intensified its traffic advocacy and public enlightenment campaign through a strategic engagement with transportation unions and other critical stakeholders operating within the Ikeja axis of Lagos.
The initiative, designed to foster a culture of voluntary compliance, responsible road use and seamless traffic management, forms part of the Agency’s renewed commitment to complement enforcement with sustained advocacy, stakeholder engagement and grassroots enlightenment.
During the engagement, LASTMA officials interacted directly with leaders and members of various transportation unions, sensitising them on the imperative of strict adherence to traffic regulations, disciplined driving practices, proper loading and off-loading procedures, responsible parking and the avoidance of activities capable of precipitating traffic congestion or endangering other road users.
The Agency emphasised that the responsibilities of transportation operators extend beyond the mere conveyance of passengers, stressing that commercial drivers and union members constitute indispensable partners in the collective effort to maintain order, safety and efficiency across Lagos’ increasingly complex transportation corridors.
Particular attention was drawn to the need for drivers to desist from indiscriminate parking, illegal U-turns, obstruction of traffic lanes, reckless overtaking, picking and dropping passengers at unauthorised locations, driving against traffic and other practices capable of compromising the free flow of vehicular movement.
The engagement also provided an avenue for transportation union leaders to articulate operational challenges confronting their members, while LASTMA officers offered clarifications on traffic regulations, enforcement procedures and appropriate channels for resolving traffic-related concerns.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, stated that the Agency’s approach was anchored on the conviction that sustainable traffic management could not be achieved through enforcement alone, but must be underpinned by continuous enlightenment, consultation and collaboration with transport stakeholders.
He noted that transportation unions remained strategically positioned to influence the conduct of their members and by extension, contribute significantly to the restoration and sustenance of traffic discipline across the metropolis.
According to him, “Our objective is not merely to enforce compliance but to cultivate understanding, responsibility and voluntary adherence to the law. Transportation operators are critical partners in this endeavour because their daily activities have a direct bearing on traffic flow, road safety and the overall mobility experience of Lagosians.”
The General Manager further urged union leaders to institutionalise continuous sensitisation among their members and ensure that every driver under their respective associations understands the consequences of traffic violations and the broader implications of indiscipline on the motoring public.
The Agency appealed to all transport operators, motorists and other road users to regard traffic regulations not as punitive instruments, but as essential mechanisms for protecting lives, preventing avoidable crashes and ensuring the uninterrupted movement of people and goods across Lagos.
