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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

69 killed, 246 injured in Lagos road crashes in Q1 2026 – LASTMA

From The Punch · (5m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Lagos State recorded 69 fatalities and 246 injuries in road crashes during the first quarter of 2026.
  • The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also cleared over 600 accident scenes and resolved more than 900 infractions involving heavy vehicles.
  • LASTMA has implemented technological enforcement, conducted training for personnel, and overhauled traffic equipment to improve response times and service delivery.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has released its first-quarter report for 2026, detailing a significant number of road traffic accidents across the state. While the figures of 69 deaths and 246 injuries are stark, LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki highlighted the agency's efforts to improve service delivery and reduce response times. This includes overhauling traffic equipment, conducting extensive training for personnel, and leveraging technology for enforcement.

For the first quarter, we have been able to improve on our service delivery, especially ensuring significant improvement in the travel time of Lagos residents.

— Olalekan Bakare-OkiGeneral Manager of LASTMA, commenting on the agency's performance in Q1 2026.

LASTMA's proactive approach is evident in the clearing of over 600 accident scenes and the resolution of more than 900 infractions involving articulated vehicles. The agency's commitment to zero tolerance for traffic violations, coupled with technological enforcement capturing nearly 18,000 offences, underscores its dedication to enhancing road safety in Nigeria's bustling commercial capital.

We have carried out a total overhaul of all traffic equipment and recovery vehicles, ensuring they are strategically repositioned to improve our response time to traffic incident management.

— Olalekan Bakare-OkiGeneral Manager of LASTMA, detailing improvements in operational capacity.

The agency's focus on capacity building, with a year-long training calendar for over 1,000 officers, signals a strategic investment in its workforce. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that Lagos residents experience improved travel times and a more efficient traffic management system, reflecting the state's ongoing efforts to modernize its infrastructure and services.

In terms of personnel, we have also embarked on training and reorientation for better service delivery.

— Olalekan Bakare-OkiGeneral Manager of LASTMA, discussing human resource development.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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