Bakare-Oki Commends Media Support for LASTMA, Calls For Stronger Partnership In 2026

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos

The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has commended media practitioners for their sustained support and professionalism in projecting the agency’s activities and mandate throughout 2025, describing the partnership as vital to improving public confidence and awareness of traffic management in Lagos State.

Bakare-Oki gave the commendation over the weekend during a review of LASTMA’s engagement with the media, noting that journalists across print, broadcast and digital platforms demonstrated consistency, objectivity and civic responsibility in their coverage of the agency’s operations, policies and interventions.

He said feedback received through the media—reflecting public opinion, expert analysis and stakeholder perspectives—had been largely constructive and insightful, contributing to policy refinement, strengthened operational strategies and evidence-based decision-making within the agency.

According to him, the media has remained a critical partner in LASTMA’s public enlightenment and behavioural change mandate, adding that beyond information dissemination, analytical reporting and constructive criticism have positively influenced institutional thinking and reform processes.

Bakare-Oki also highlighted the impact of the ‘LASTMA Media Mayors’ initiative, under which selected journalists were integrated into traffic management activities across the state. He described the programme as a forward-looking engagement model that has improved transparency, enhanced public trust and enriched media reporting with firsthand operational insight.

As the agency prepares for a new operational year, the LASTMA boss stressed the need for a more robust and strategic collaboration with the media to address the growing challenges of urban mobility in Lagos, particularly in promoting voluntary compliance with traffic regulations and ensuring timely dissemination of traffic information to road users.

He further disclosed that during the 2025 festive season, more than 1,800 LASTMA personnel were deployed under the ‘LASTMA 24-Hour Night Gangs’ initiative to manage traffic flow and curb infractions during the “Detty December” period. He said the round-the-clock deployment helped to ease congestion on major routes and improve road safety during the peak period.

Bakare-Oki reiterated that effective traffic management in a megacity like Lagos requires a combination of efficient enforcement, public cooperation and responsible media engagement, noting that sustainable success depends on collective responsibility.

He concluded by reaffirming LASTMA’s commitment to transparency, professionalism and continuous stakeholder engagement, expressing optimism that the New Year would bring a deeper and more impactful partnership with the media in advancing safer and more efficient road use across Lagos State.