LASTMA Deploys Drones for Traffic and Security Surveillance in Lagos

LASTMA Deploys Drones for Traffic and Security Surveillance in Lagos

In a bold step toward digital transformation, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has introduced the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), popularly known as drones, to enhance traffic control, security surveillance, and public safety across the state.

The initiative, announced on Thursday in a statement signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, marks the agency’s transition from traditional analogue methods to advanced digital intelligence.

READ ALSO:Lamine Yamal To Miss Newcastle Clash

According to the statement, the move aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of leveraging technology to achieve sustainable urban mobility and improved governance in Lagos.

“In a decisive leap towards technological advancement, LASTMA has officially commenced its transition from conventional methodologies to an era of advanced digital intelligence,” the statement read. “This trailblazing initiative underscores the administration’s dedication to innovation in pursuit of sustainable mobility, heightened safety, and operational excellence.”

LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the deployment as a watershed moment in traffic management, noting that drones will provide real-time aerial oversight of Lagos’ notoriously congested roads.

https://lastma.lagosstate.gov.ng/

“This transition transcends the mere acquisition of equipment; it embodies a strategic reformation,” Bakare-Oki said. “These drones will enable swifter interventions, improved safety outcomes, enhanced emergency response, stronger security frameworks, and the cultivation of a more disciplined motoring culture.”

He also reassured the public that the drone operations would comply strictly with privacy safeguards, ethical standards, and regulatory frameworks, thereby ensuring transparency and public trust.

The agency emphasized that the technological upgrade would complement LASTMA’s existing operations, reduce travel times, curb road mishaps, and protect lives and property. In addition, drones will strengthen LASTMA’s capacity to respond quickly to emergencies, accidents, and traffic-related crises.

The statement concluded by urging Lagos residents to continue engaging with the Authority via its toll-free hotline (080000527862) while welcoming the innovative approach as part of broader reforms to modernize traffic management in Africa’s most populous city.