Delta Traffic Officials Study LASTMA’s Traffic Control Model in Lagos
By Adebayo Taofiq
In a move to enhance traffic management in Delta State, senior officials from the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) embarked on a strategic operational learning visit to Lagos on Wednesday to understudy the successful model of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
The delegation was received at LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi by the agency’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who took the visitors through the history, structure, and innovative practices that have defined LASTMA’s operations since its inception in 2000.
Bakare-Oki traced the agency’s foundation to the visionary leadership of then-Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a major turning point in the state’s approach to urban traffic control. “LASTMA was established to ensure smooth traffic flow and drastically reduce accidents in the state,” he said.
He pointed to the statutory support provided by the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 and the agency’s workforce of over 4,000 personnel as critical enablers of LASTMA’s effectiveness in managing traffic across the complex Lagos metropolis.
The General Manager also highlighted the agency’s integration of modern technology, especially the use of the Traffic Management Solution (TMS) device. He explained that the device enhances enforcement by enabling real-time documentation of infractions, reducing direct confrontations with motorists, and limiting enforcement disputes.
Looking ahead, Bakare-Oki announced that LASTMA’s 25th anniversary later this year will coincide with the unveiling of a 20-year Traffic Management Plan (TMP) designed to align with Lagos State’s long-term development agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting team, DESTMA’s Director of Operations, Engr. Edema Francis, expressed appreciation to LASTMA for granting access to observe its operations. He said the visit aimed to study LASTMA’s offender data capturing techniques, operational strategy, and use of analytics with a view to replicating effective practices in Delta State.
The DESTMA team is also scheduled to tour key institutions involved in traffic oversight, including Lagos Traffic Radio and the Lagos State Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
The meeting was also attended by DESTMA’s Director of Technical Services, Engr. Atufe Patrick, and senior LASTMA officials.
