Dare Babalola
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Honourable Sola Giwa, has commended Lagos residents for their exemplary civic responsibility, discipline, and strict adherence to traffic laws during the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) 24-Hour Night Gang Operations carried out across the metropolis during the 2025 Detty December festive season.
Giwa gave the commendation at the weekend while hosting officers and personnel of LASTMA at a New Year White Party and Meritorious Service Recognition Ceremony, organised in honour of the agency’s workforce.
In a statement posted on the agency’s social media pages on Wednesday, Giwa was quoted to have praised the cooperation of Lagosians and the motoring public, describing it as a critical factor behind the improved orderliness, enhanced safety, and smooth traffic flow recorded across major routes during the typically high-pressure festive period.
According to him, the 2025 Detty December—often characterised by intense vehicular congestion, increased nightlife activities, and heavy road usage—stood out for the unprecedented level of voluntary compliance exhibited by road users. This, he said, significantly boosted LASTMA’s operational efficiency and ensured seamless traffic movement along key corridors including Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and the Lekki–Ajah axis, even during late-night hours.
“The outcomes of the LASTMA 24-Hour Night Gang Operations clearly demonstrate the growing traffic consciousness and civic maturity of Lagosians. The patience, restraint, and law-abiding conduct displayed by motorists and commuters deserve unequivocal commendation,” Giwa stated.
The Special Adviser also paid glowing tribute to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for his consistent support, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to strengthening the state’s transportation ecosystem. He noted that the Governor’s strategic investments in logistics, personnel welfare, capacity building, and policy direction have continued to reposition LASTMA as a modern, resilient, and reform-driven traffic management agency.
He assured Lagosians that LASTMA is poised to transition from conventional traffic regulation to a technology-driven incident management framework in the coming year.
Giwa further revealed that the transformation would be anchored on advanced surveillance systems, real-time monitoring, rapid-response mechanisms, and data-driven operations aimed at reducing road incidents, shortening response times, and improving overall road safety.
“In 2026, LASTMA will move beyond routine traffic control to proactive incident management. Technology will be central to our operations—anticipating disruptions, enabling swift emergency responses, and ensuring safer, smarter, and more efficient roads for all users,” he said.
He concluded by urging Lagosians to sustain the culture of compliance, patience, and mutual respect on the roads, emphasising that effective traffic management remains a shared civic responsibility between government institutions and the public.
