NANS, LASTMA Partner On Student Road Safety, Youth Empowerment In Lagos
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC), Lagos State chapter, has begun talks with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to strengthen road safety awareness among students and promote youth empowerment initiatives across the state.
The meeting, held at LASTMA headquarters in Oshodi, was led by the Chairman of NANS JCC Lagos, Ridwan Ajayi, and the management team of LASTMA headed by its General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki.
Speaking during the engagement, Ajayi commended LASTMA for its sustained efforts in maintaining traffic order and improving road safety across Lagos State.
He explained that the visit was aimed at formally introducing the newly inaugurated NANS leadership and establishing a structured partnership with the agency, particularly in the area of traffic education for students.
Ajayi noted that students make up a significant percentage of road users in Lagos and stressed the need for increased sensitisation within tertiary institutions.
He proposed collaboration in areas such as campus-based traffic safety campaigns, student-focused awareness programmes, and other initiatives designed to encourage responsible road use among youths.
The NANS chairman also appealed for youth empowerment opportunities, including internship placements and structured engagements for qualified students, citing previous successes recorded through partnerships with government agencies and private organisations.
Responding, LASTMA General Manager, Bakare-Oki, congratulated the new NANS leadership and acknowledged the role of student bodies in supporting traffic management and civic responsibility.
He highlighted the agency’s achievements in reducing road accidents across the state, while expressing concern over rising traffic incidents along the Badagry Expressway corridor, especially around tertiary institutions.
According to him, previous collaborations with student leaders had produced positive results, adding that LASTMA remains open to renewed partnerships aimed at improving traffic safety awareness on campuses.
On employment concerns, Bakare-Oki explained that recruitment into LASTMA is handled through the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, although the agency regularly engages students through the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The meeting also featured discussions on LASTMA’s use of digital platforms for traffic information dissemination, the introduction of a toll-free emergency line, and ongoing stakeholder engagements to tackle traffic-related challenges in Lagos.
Both parties concluded the meeting with a commitment to strengthen collaboration on student sensitisation, traffic safety advocacy, and youth engagement initiatives across the state.
