LASTMA Officers Under Govt Protection – Sanwo-Olu Warns Against Assault

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has vowed to prosecute anyone who attacks Officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), declaring that the Government will no longer tolerate assaults on its law enforcement personnel.

Speaking through his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, during a conference held to mark LASTMA’s 25th Anniversary in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said the Agency had become an indispensable part of the city’s infrastructure and must be protected.

“Let’s put it on record that anyone who attacks our Officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Sanwo-Olu warned. “Without LASTMA, all of us can’t function. That is the truth. And as such, we must respect them while they do their job.”

The Governor’s warning comes as LASTMA celebrates a Quarter-Century of Service to the State, marked by significant growth and challenges. From its humble beginnings with less than 500 personnel and rudimentary tools, LASTMA has grown into a 4,000-strong Institution at the forefront of Urban mobility enforcement, incident response, and Public Service.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, described the Anniversary as a moment of deep reflection for the Agency and the State, highlighting LASTMA’s journey from a modest start to its current status as a key player in managing Lagos’ chaotic traffic.

Giwa noted that LASTMA officers were now deployed to major corridors, managing more than two million vehicular movements daily across Lagos’ 9,100-kilometre road network. “Our officers have braved the sun, storms, and street hostilities—not only to clear traffic bottlenecks—but also to save lives during accidents, coordinate disaster responses, and facilitate seamless movement of goods and services.”