The Lagos State Government has officially honoured the sacrifice of traffic officials who died while serving the public, with a significant financial gesture that recognises both their courage and the dangers associated with their work.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the government disbursed a total of ₦40 million to the next-of-kin of 20 deceased officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who lost their lives while on duty. The presentation was made at a solemn financial ceremony organised by LASTMA to honour the memory of its fallen personnel.
The announcement was made by Mr. Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, who spoke on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event. Giwa said the initiative stemmed from reflections during LASTMA’s 25th anniversary celebration on July 15, 2025, when Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor and representative of the governor at the event, was deeply moved by the risks traffic officers endure daily.
Giwa explained that Governor Sanwo-Olu approved a one-off payment of ₦2 million to each family as a tangible acknowledgement of service, though, he stressed, “no value can equal the price of a life.”
“The governor said something profound that day, that in traffic management, the greatest victories are often unseen, and the greatest praises unsung,” Giwa said. “The governor graciously approved that the families of our personnel, who died in active service, be supported with ₦2,000,000 each, but not as payment for their loss. This is because no value can equal the price of a life, but as a tangible expression of state recognition for duty, courage, and sacrifice.”
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa, reflected on the everyday dangers faced by LASTMA officers, noting that 17 officers died in the line of duty last year alone. He highlighted instances in which personnel were attacked or killed, including cases where officers were stoned by motorists in Apapa and others crushed by vehicles.
“We have people who do not recognise the activities of officers a lot of times, but it’s only when they misbehave that we complain, yet they face challenges on a daily basis,” Musa said. “These officers were heroes who paid the ultimate price in the course of duty.”
Musa’s remarks underscored the dual pressures of public misunderstanding and the physical dangers inherent in traffic management on Nigeria’s bustling roads.
Earlier in the event, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, emphasised that the ceremony was organised not just as a financial operation, but as a celebration of the lives and legacies of the deceased officers.
“This event was organised to honour the memories of the deceased officers and stand in solidarity with their families,” Bakare-Oki said. He added that LASTMA remains committed to improving road safety across Lagos and preventing further tragedies.
Traffic management in Lagos is widely acknowledged as one of the most demanding public safety roles in the state, with officers regularly exposed to risks including road accidents, aggressive motorists, and violent confrontations. Previous government actions have included warnings against attacks on officers and calls for greater public cooperation to protect LASTMA personnel.
By providing financial support to the families of fallen officers, the Lagos State Government is signalling a commitment to recognising the sacrifices of public servants whose work often goes unnoticed. This move follows earlier compensation programmes by LASTMA and the state aimed at supporting officers and their dependents impacted by injury or death in the line of duty.
