The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has indeed taken a significant step forward with the introduction of drone operations, aiming to enhance traffic management, security surveillance, and public safety across Lagos. This move aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Agenda, emphasizing technology and innovation for a safer and smarter Lagos.

In a decisive leap towards technological advancement, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has officially commenced its transition from traditional analog methodologies to an era of advanced digital intelligence, signaled by the deployment of state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), widely known as drones, to enhance traffic management, strengthen security surveillance, and reinforce public safety across the Lagos metropolis.

According to Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department at LASTMA, this pioneering initiative aligns with the Lagos State Government’s vision under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. It highlights the administration’s commitment to harnessing innovation for sustainable urban mobility, enhanced safety, and operational excellence. The move underscores LASTMA’s dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technology to improve traffic management and public safety in Lagos.

Through aerial reconnaissance and high-definition monitoring capabilities, these drones shall empower LASTMA to be more proactive in traffic management and control across the State.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, affirmed that the deployment of drones signifies a watershed moment in Lagos’ traffic management ecosystem, seamlessly elevating the Authority from conventional reactive enforcement to predictive, intelligence-driven operations.

He stated: “This transition transcends the mere acquisition of equipment; it embodies a strategic reformation that positions LASTMA at the forefront of digital governance in traffic management. These drones will provide real-time aerial oversight, enabling swifter interventions, improved safety outcomes, argument emergency response coordination, bolster security frameworks and the cultivation of a more disciplined motoring culture.”

Mr. Bakare-Oki further reassured the public that the deployment shall be conducted under stringent adherence to privacy safeguards, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance, thereby reinforcing public trust in the system’s transparency and integrity.

The Authority reaffirmed its unwavering resolve to continuously innovate in traffic management, reduce travel times, curtail road traffic mishaps, and preserve lives and property throughout Lagos State.

According to Mr. Bakare-Oki, “This milestone stands as yet another resounding testament to the THEMES+ Agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu, wherein technology and innovation serve as indispensable drivers of a safer, smarter, and more habitable Lagos.”

He further maintained that this modern technological intervention would complement LASTMA’s prompt responsiveness to emergencies, accidents, and other traffic-related contingencies, in addition to the existing LASTMA Toll-Free Hotline: 080000527862.