Lagos Government Reintroduces Psychiatric Evaluation for Traffic Offenders, Unveils Smart Traffic Management Reforms
Enet
In a strategic move to enhance road safety and discipline among motorists, the Lagos State Government has announced the reintroduction of psychiatric evaluations for traffic offenders, particularly for individuals caught driving against the flow of traffic.
The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, during the presentation of the communiqué from the second Lagos Traffic Conference, held on Wednesday, July 16. The event coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
According to Giwa, the reimplementation of mental health assessments is one of several key recommendations adopted at the conference to reinforce LASTMA’s operational efficiency and restore public trust in the state’s traffic management system.
“For the mental health assessment of offenders, the agency should reintroduce psychiatric evaluation for those caught driving against traffic,” he said, noting that the measure complements Lagos State’s longstanding commitment to responsible road use and safety-first governance.
Giwa also disclosed that LASTMA personnel will undergo international capacity-building programmes designed to align the agency’s practices with global traffic management standards.
Speaking on the agency’s long-term vision, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, unveiled a comprehensive 20-year blueprint aimed at transitioning Lagos into a technology-driven traffic ecosystem. He stated that LASTMA has begun compiling an extensive database of traffic incidents and road crashes, which will serve as a foundation for data-driven policy decisions.
“This deliberate approach gives us a credible database that enables the government to plan more effectively and make informed decisions,” Bakare-Oki stated.
He emphasized the agency’s increasing investment in Information Technology Systems (ITS), which now support real-time monitoring, enforcement, and control of vehicular movement in high-traffic zones. Notable deployments include surveillance cameras at Allen Roundabout, the Third Mainland Bridge, and the Alapere axis.
“Since the installation of ITS infrastructure, we have recorded a significant decline in road crashes, especially on the Third Mainland Bridge,” he added. “This initiative is safety-focused and not designed for revenue generation.”
Bakare-Oki also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the welfare and working conditions of LASTMA officers as part of broader institutional reforms.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, commended LASTMA on its 25 years of service. Represented by Mr. Nonso Okechukwu, Gbeleyi praised the agency as a national benchmark in traffic control and urged it to deepen collaboration with private sector operators in the transportation sector.
He further pledged BPE’s support in providing policy guidance, public-private partnership advisory, and institutional frameworks to help Lagos State realize its smart city agenda.
The Lagos Traffic Conference brought together key stakeholders in transportation, law enforcement, urban planning, and public policy, with a shared goal of transforming the state’s traffic system into a model of efficiency, innovation, and safety.
