No fewer than 69 people lost their lives in road accidents across Lagos State during the first quarter of 2026, underscoring persistent safety concerns on the state’s busy road network.
Data released by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also showed that 246 individuals suffered varying degrees of injuries within the same period. The figures reflect the continued human cost associated with traffic violations and road crashes in the state.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed the statistics during an interview on Sunday. He noted that officials attended to more than 600 accident scenes between January and March as part of ongoing traffic management and emergency response efforts.
Bakare-Oki further explained that the agency focused enforcement on heavy-duty vehicles, addressing over 900 violations involving trucks and articulated vehicles.
According to him, enforcement operations were significantly intensified, with approximately 4,900 physical patrol and intervention exercises carried out across Lagos.
In addition, technology-driven monitoring systems recorded 17,942 traffic offences during the period, reflecting an expanded use of digital tools in tracking violations.
“LASTMA has zero tolerance for traffic infractions,” he said, explaining that vehicles impounded for violations are promptly arraigned before the Lagos State Mobile Court.
Despite the high number of incidents, the LASTMA boss said the agency has made measurable progress in improving traffic flow and operational efficiency.
“For the first quarter, we have been able to improve our service delivery, particularly in reducing travel time for Lagos residents.
“We carried out a comprehensive overhaul of traffic equipment and recovery vehicles, strategically repositioning them to enhance response time to incidents.
“In terms of personnel, we commenced training and re-orientation programmes aimed at improving service delivery,” he said.
Bakare-Oki also revealed plans to further strengthen the agency’s workforce through expanded training initiatives.
“We are planning to train over 1,000 personnel, and the process has already begun through both internal and external programmes.
“We have engaged consultants for specialised training, and in the coming months, we will intensify high-level capacity-building initiatives for all staff,” he added.
