In a significant escalation of its traffic management strategy, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed 1,700 personnel for round-the-clock operations. This initiative, officially named ‘Operation Ember Months Stability,’ is a direct response to the notorious seasonal surge in traffic and road incidents that plagues Lagos during the final months of the year.
The announcement was made by the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The deployment represents a strategic, data-driven effort to tackle congestion at its source across all five administrative divisions of the state.
The Strategic Deployment: More Than Just Numbers
Bakare-Oki detailed a phased and targeted approach. The 24-hour monitoring began seven weeks prior, focusing initially on major arterial routes with historically high vehicular density. A recent, critical reinforcement saw over 850 additional staff deployed specifically to the high-pressure corridors of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and the Lekki-Ajah axis, bringing the total personnel in these areas to 1,700.
The operation is structured around a rigorous three-shift system designed for seamless coverage:
- Morning Shift: 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Handles the peak inbound commute).
- Afternoon/Evening Shift: 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Manages the evening rush hour and early-night traffic).
- Night Shift: 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (A critical innovation for overnight incident response and clearing obstructions).
Beyond Personnel: The Equipment and Tactical Edge
To empower this massive workforce, LASTMA has mobilized an arsenal of 800 specialized traffic management equipment. This includes channelisers for lane discipline, barriers for scene management, advanced traffic control lighting for night visibility, and high-grade reflective jackets for officer safety. This equipment is vital for creating safe work zones and directing traffic efficiently, especially during low-light hours.
Tangible Impacts and the ‘Rescue & Emergency’ Surge
Bakare-Oki reported clear, measurable benefits since the operation’s inception:
- Rapid Incident Response: The 24-hour model eliminates the previous vulnerability gap. Accidents, breakdowns, or illegal parking that occurred at night can now be addressed “promptly,” preventing them from snowballing into morning gridlock.
- Improved Travel Time: By proactively managing hotspots and clearing incidents faster, the agency has directly contributed to reducing average commute times for residents—a key metric of urban livability.
A pivotal component of this strategy is the intensified activity of the LASTMA Rescue and Emergency Department. Understanding Lagos’s unique “tidal flow” traffic pattern—where mornings see a massive movement from mainland to island—this unit conducts targeted sweeps. Between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., they comb major traffic points to remove abandoned vehicles, debris, and other “distractions” that would otherwise cripple the morning rush.
Context: Why the ‘Ember Months’ Are Critical
‘Operation Ember Months Stability’ is not a routine exercise. In Nigeria, the “Ember Months” (September through December) are historically associated with increased travel, social activities, commerce, and, unfortunately, a spike in road traffic accidents. Factors include higher volumes of vehicles, potential driver fatigue from festivities, and sometimes reckless driving. LASTMA’s preemptive, large-scale deployment is a recognition of this seasonal pattern and a move to assert control before problems escalate, aiming to ensure safer and more predictable mobility during one of the busiest periods in Lagos’s calendar.
This comprehensive initiative signals a shift from reactive traffic management to a proactive, 24/7 operational model, setting a new benchmark for metropolitan traffic agencies in Nigeria.
