The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says it will deploy more than 2,000 personnel across major locations in Lagos during the December festive period.
This, it says, is to ensure smooth traffic flow and improve road safety.
LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki disclosed this, while outlining the authority’s traffic management plans, at a media conference on Thursday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.
Bakare-Oki noted that the initiative would strengthen accident response and reduce congestion across the state.
He said the deployment would cover Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, Surulere and Ikeja, among other busy locations of the state.
According to Bakare-Oki, LASTMA has also mobilised recovery vehicles to strategic locations to improve response time to road crashes and other traffic incidents.
The general manager said the operation would run round the clock, with additional personnel working between 10.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. to manage traffic during the night.
“The authority’s responsibilities have expanded beyond traffic control to include road safety advocacy, public engagement and prompt response to traffic incidents,” he said.
The LASTMA boss, however, expressed concern over the increasing number of crashes along major routes, including Kara Bridge, the Coastal Road, Third Mainland Bridge and Ikorodu Road.
He disclosed that over 365 traffic incidents were recorded between January and September along the Adegbola-to-Kara stretch, resulting in about 15 deaths.
He added that more than 80 traffic incidents were recorded along the Coastal Road within the period under review, claiming about 17 lives.
The general manager said LASTMA was collaborating with relevant government agencies to assess the causes of crashes and develop measures to reduce fatalities on major roads.
He urged motorists, including commercial and private vehicle operators, to observe traffic regulations and cooperate with traffic officials during the festive season. (NAN)
