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Opeifa eulogies LASTMA, describes its creation as phenomenal statement in public policy.

Funso OLOJO 
The Managing Director of  Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) ,Dr Kayode Opeifa , has lauded the role of  Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in restoring sanity to the otherwise chaotic traffic gridlock in Lagos state, describing its creation as a testament of phenomenal traffic management.
Opeifa, a former Commissioner of Transportation, who as Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, nurtured the agency, said the establishment of LASTMA changed the traffic management narrative in Lagos and have provided the compass being copied by other states of the federation.
“LASTMA, which was established in year 2000  by the then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a response to a local challenge that seems intractable, has proved to be a policy decision that was not only bold, but audacious, just and right.
“It has remained effective in enforcing the peoples rights, visibly impacting on managing traffic enforcement.”
“LASTMA’s impact and successes are visible and several states are already copying the policy in managing traffic in several urban centres across the country.”
Opeifa noted that traffic management had been the forte of the Nigeria Police, explaining that its establishment  challenged the concept of true federalism as it decentralized traffic management in Nigeria as far back as 25 years ago.
“LASTMA’s impact on traffic management over the years have been visible, sustainable and scalable and replicable as many subnational governments are now approaching the state to copy its operational model.
“Your impact in Lagos State and Nigeria traffic management is truly impactful and legendary.
“Your creation remained one of the few workable models in Nigeria for the traffic management.
“Your role in modern urban planning, safety and institutional reforms remain legendary.
He said the LASTMA’s example has shown that local solutions can become a national phenomenon.
“Your successes are unmatched anywhere in Nigeria by any policy agency.
” You stand out as a bold and strategic intervention in Nigeria urban mobility landscape.
“As a policy response to traffic gridlock and the breakdown of law and order, you remained a successful signpost.
“You represents a master stroke in public policy since independence, blending law enforcement, civil and urban planning into an institutional framework that stands the test of time, politics and government.
“With your unique enforcement tactics, to your vital role in keeping Lagos traffic moving with pride, dignity and honour you remained the defining symbol of how subnational governance can innovate to solving urban problems,” Opeifa added.
He paid glowing tributes to staff of the agency who fell in the line of duty as well as those maimed just for keeping the traffic moving.
Earlier, the Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat, unveiled a strategic vision for the future of traffic management in the state.
Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Silver Jubilee celebration ,also paid tribute to the agency’s legacy, acknowledging the sacrifices of its fallen officers.
“Lagos, as a mega city, has faced unprecedented urban growth, huge population explosion and increasing vehicle numbers, all of which intensify traffic congestion and safety concerns,” he said.
“Without LASTMA, all of us can’t function. That is the truth, and as such, we must respect them while they do their job,” he said.
In an emotional moment, Hamzat honored the memory of LASTMA officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, noting that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
“To the families of those fallen heroes, we owe a debt that can never be fully paid. Their legacy will forever inspire us.”
Reflecting on the journey of the agency since its establishment in 2000, the Deputy Governor praised LASTMA’s transformation from a modest traffic control outfit into a technologically advanced mobility management body.
“In those early years, the agency confronted infrastructure deficits, limited technology, and the daunting task of changing user behavior,” he noted.
“Yet through unwavering dedication, innovative reforms, and strategic partnerships, LASTMA has overcome those obstacles.”
He added that LASTMA has evolved from relying on “whistles and hand signals” to deploying “cutting-edge technology, including real-time traffic monitoring systems, automated number plate recognition, and digital communication platforms.”
The agency’s model, according to Hamzat, has inspired 26 Nigerian states and four West African countries to adopt similar structures.
 “So they are doing very well. We are proud of LASTMA,” he declared.
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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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