Traffic
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has begun preparations to activate an intensified 24-hour traffic management strategy during the Ember Months and festive season.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA General Manager, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
Bakare-Oki said the initiative was designed to manage anticipated increases in vehicular and pedestrian movements, optimise traffic circulation and prevent avoidable congestion.
“The strategy represents a deliberate recalibration of the authority’s operational architecture to ensure enhanced traffic surveillance, rapid incident detection and expedited response,” he said.
He said personnel and specialised response teams would be strategically deployed to congestion-prone locations, major interchanges, bridges, arterial routes, terminals and commercial districts.
Bakare-Oki explained that the operation would leverage real-time traffic monitoring, corridor management, intersection control, traffic-flow optimisation and rapid obstruction clearance.
“Particular attention will be accorded to vehicular bottlenecks occasioned by breakdowns, crashes, indiscriminate parking, illegal loading and off-loading,” he said.
He added that LASTMA would strengthen incident management and traffic diversion mechanisms during the period.
According to him, accidented or disabled vehicles would be promptly evacuated from carriageways to minimise congestion and secondary crashes.
He said tactical diversions and temporary traffic-control measures would also be deployed where necessary to preserve network continuity.
The LASTMA boss said the intensity and complexity of festive-season traffic required unprecedented inter-agency operational synergy.
He said LASTMA would deepen collaboration with relevant stakeholders for coordinated incident response, accident evacuation, traffic control and enforcement.
He listed the stakeholders as the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.
Others, he said, included the Lagos Ambulance Service Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, transport unions and other relevant agencies.
Bakare-Oki urged motorists, commercial transport operators, articulated-vehicle and tanker drivers to exercise heightened vigilance and comply strictly with traffic regulations.
He specifically cautioned against speeding, reckless overtaking, driving against traffic, illegal parking and indiscriminate loading and off-loading.
He also warned against obstruction of traffic lanes and other unsafe practices capable of causing crashes and debilitating congestion.
Bakare-Oki advised motorists to conduct comprehensive pre-trip vehicle safety checks before embarking on long-distance journeys.
He identified braking systems, tyres, lighting and other critical vehicle components as requiring particular attention before travel.
He encouraged members of the public to promptly report crashes, breakdowns, obstructions and other traffic incidents through LASTMA’s toll-free short code, 3367.
He said prompt reporting would facilitate rapid intervention and reduce incident-clearance time across the state. (NAN)
