69 died on Lagos roads in Q1 2026 — LASTMA

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has released sobering statistics for the first quarter of 2026, revealing that 69 lives were lost on the state's roads. This figure, coupled with 246 injuries and over 600 accident scenes cleared, paints a stark picture of the ongoing challenges in ensuring road safety within Nigeria's bustling commercial capital. The data underscores the critical need for continued vigilance and effective traffic management strategies.

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For the first quarter, we have been able to improve on our service management, especially ensuring that there is great improvement in the travel time of Lagos residents.

LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, while presenting these figures, also emphasized the authority's efforts to enhance its operations. These include a complete overhaul of traffic equipment, strategic repositioning of recovery vehicles to improve response times, and a significant focus on personnel training and re-orientation. A year-long training calendar has been established, aiming to upskill over 1,000 personnel through both internal and external programs, signaling a commitment to professionalizing traffic management.

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We have done a total overhaul of all traffic equipment and recovery vehicles by ensuring that we reposition them strategically so that they can aid and improve our response time to traffic incident management.

From a local perspective, these statistics are not just numbers; they represent families affected and the daily realities faced by Lagos residents navigating congested and often perilous roadways. While international coverage might focus on the sheer volume of traffic or infrastructure projects, the Nigerian press, like The Punch, delves into the operational aspects and the human cost. The emphasis on LASTMA's internal improvements and enforcement activities reflects a local concern for accountability and tangible progress in reducing road accidents. The agency's zero-tolerance policy for infractions and the mention of technology-driven enforcement, which captured nearly 18,000 offenses, highlight a proactive approach to managing the complex traffic environment.

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We are planning to train over 1,000 of our men, and we have started — both internal and external training.