By Toochi Ejiofor
The next time you are tempted to beat a red light or drive against a one-way street in Lagos, you might want to think twice. Even if you do not see a single yellow-uniformed officer in sight, a camera is likely watching you.
For decades, the relationship between Lagos motorists and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been defined by a physical, often chaotic, game of cat and mouse. Things are changing, however.
According to new data released by LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the agency captured 38,000 traffic offenders using digital Traffic Management Solution (TMS) devices during the second quarter of 2026 alone.
By contrast, traditional physical enforcement accounted for just over 3,000 vehicles in the same three-month period. The offences recorded included illegal parking, failure to use designated bus stops, driving against traffic, unauthorised use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes, and failure to wear seat belts.
LASTMA is shifting towards technology-driven traffic management by using tools such as drones, cameras, and automated enforcement systems to monitor roads, detect traffic violations, track congestion, and improve emergency response. The move is aimed at making traffic enforcement faster, more efficient, and less dependent on officers’ physical monitoring.
The agency introduced the Traffic Management Solution (TMS) device in July 2023, a technology-based platform that uses tools like cameras, sensors, and data systems to monitor traffic flow, detect violations, and support faster decision-making and response by traffic authorities. In 2024, they captured 20,000 vehicles for various traffic infractions using the TMS devices.
Following the identification of violations, LASTMA issues court papers to motorists after sufficient evidence has been established. However, only the Lagos State Mobile Court has the authority to convict offenders and determine fines. Motorists are encouraged to appear in court for a fair hearing, while those who choose not to may sign a waiver form and pay the prescribed penalty.
Bakare-Oki has urged Lagos drivers to comply with traffic regulations to avoid enforcement action.
