The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says its 3367 toll-free short code hotline, introduced to strengthen emergency response and improve traffic management, has received more than 400 calls within two weeks of its launch.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
According to him, the hotline, unveiled on June 28, is a strategic initiative designed to strengthen emergency response operations, improve traffic management efficiency and encourage greater public participation in road transportation administration across Lagos State.
Bakare-Oki described the public response as encouraging, noting that the migration from the former long telephone number to the easy-to-remember 3367 short code has made the agency more accessible.
“The response to the new hotline has been encouraging. In the last two weeks, the agency has received over 400 calls. With the introduction of the short code, we are now more accessible to the public, and it has been well received,” he said.
He explained that the authority received a wide range of calls, including reports of traffic infractions, accidents, complaints about the conduct of LASTMA officers, as well as commendations for officers carrying out their duties professionally.
“Most surprisingly, some people even called simply to confirm that the line was working,” he added.
Bakare-Oki assured residents that every report received through the platform would be treated with utmost professionalism and promptly forwarded to the appropriate operational units for necessary action.
He urged members of the public to embrace the hotline as an important tool for improving road safety and traffic management across the state.
Speaking on staff discipline, the LASTMA boss said any officer found guilty of serious misconduct while on duty is sanctioned in line with the agency’s regulations.
“With the introduction of the short code, our officers know they are being monitored by members of the public, and that serves as an additional layer of accountability.
“Beyond the 3367 short code, the authority also operates a vibrant surveillance department. Its officers move around in unbranded vehicles, like mystery shoppers, to monitor the conduct and performance of our personnel. This has yielded positive results,” he said.
Bakare-Oki noted that the combination of public feedback through the hotline and the agency’s internal surveillance system has significantly improved service delivery and contributed to reducing travel time for motorists across Lagos.
He stressed that effective traffic management is a shared responsibility between the government and road users.
According to him, LASTMA and the Lagos State Government will continue to deploy the necessary human and material resources to improve traffic flow, while urging motorists to obey traffic regulations, avoid speeding and reckless driving, respect the rights of other road users, and always maintain high safety standards.
