Lagos To Reinstate Psychiatric Tests For Traffic Offenders

Published

10 months ago

July 16, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to reinstate psychiatric assessments for traffic offenders within the state.

Mr. Sola Giwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, disclosed this during the official presentation of the communiqué from the second Lagos Traffic Conference, held on Wednesday.

The conference also marked the 25th anniversary of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

Giwa said the decision followed strategic discussions and key recommendations aimed at enhancing traffic management and road safety across Lagos.

He noted the recommendations were designed to improve LASTMA’s effectiveness, mandate, and moral standing.

“For the mental health assessment of offenders, the agency should reintroduce psychiatric evaluation for those caught driving against traffic,” Giwa said.

He explained the measure aligns with previous road safety strategies to instill discipline and deter errant road users.

Giwa also stated that LASTMA officers would undergo international training to meet global traffic management standards.

Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, LASTMA General Manager, spoke about a 20-year blueprint for a technology-driven traffic system in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki confirmed the agency was progressing well in its vision for improved traffic regulation.

He said the agency began compiling detailed traffic incident data last year, including crashes and other road events across Lagos.

“This deliberate approach gives us a credible database that allows the government to plan better and make informed decisions,” he said.

The blueprint also includes a focus on improving LASTMA officers’ welfare to enhance performance and service delivery.

He highlighted Lagos State’s increased use of Information Technology Systems (ITS), as seen around Allen Roundabout and other areas.

“The ITS tools monitor, control, and enforce traffic behaviour in real time,” he said.

He said surveillance cameras had been installed on the Third Mainland Bridge and around Alapere to promote speed control and road safety.

Bakare-Oki added that the camera installations followed incidents of road rage after rehabilitation of the bridge.

“Since deploying the cameras, road crashes on that stretch have declined,” he said.

He stressed the initiative was not for revenue generation but to safeguard lives and property and assured that residents would soon witness major improvements in LASTMA’s operations.

Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, also congratulated LASTMA on its 25th anniversary.

Represented by Mr. Nonso Okechukwu, he described LASTMA as a beacon of traffic management excellence in Nigeria.

He urged LASTMA to lead engagements with private transport operators in line with state traffic policies.

Gbeleyi noted that Lagos’ vision of a smarter, safer city could be achieved through strategic partnerships.

He affirmed the Bureau’s readiness to provide policy support, PPP advisory, and institutional guidance.
(NAN)

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.