From Analogue to Digital: LASTMA adopts drones for real-time traffic, security surveillance

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has adopted Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), widely known as drones, as part of a new technology-driven approach to improve traffic management and security operations across the state.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the initiative marks the beginning of LASTMA’s transition from traditional analogue methods to an era of advanced digital intelligence.

The deployment of drones, the statement said, aligns with the vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to leverage technology and innovation for sustainable urban mobility, improved safety, and operational excellence.

“In a decisive leap towards technological advancement, LASTMA has officially commenced its transition from traditional analog methodologies to an era of advanced digital intelligence, signaled by the deployment of state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to enhance traffic management, strengthen security surveillance, and reinforce public safety across the Lagos metropolis,” the statement read.

General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the deployment as a watershed moment for traffic management in Lagos, moving the agency from conventional, reactive enforcement to predictive, intelligence-driven operations.

“This transition transcends the mere acquisition of equipment; it embodies a strategic reformation that positions LASTMA at the forefront of digital governance in traffic management,” he said. “These drones will provide real-time aerial oversight, enabling swifter interventions, improved safety outcomes, enhanced emergency response coordination, stronger security frameworks and the cultivation of a more disciplined motoring culture.”

Bakare-Oki assured the public that the deployment will adhere strictly to privacy safeguards, ethical standards and regulatory compliance, thereby reinforcing public trust in the system’s transparency and integrity.

The authority reaffirmed its commitment to continuous innovation in traffic management to reduce travel times, curtail road accidents, and safeguard lives and property across Lagos State.

According to Bakare-Oki, “This milestone stands as yet another resounding testament to the THEMES+ Agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu, wherein technology and innovation serve as indispensable drivers of a safer, smarter and more habitable Lagos.”