LASTMA Boss, Bakare-Oki Inducts NAOSNP President, Oki Samson, 11 others as LASTMA Traffic Mayors
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
The National President of foremost security news beat association, National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Comrade Oki O. Samson has been conferred with the honor of a LASTMA Media Mayor. The formal induction ceremony and noble investiture which held yesterday Wednesday 24th of September, 2025 at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA Headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos also had 11 other respected Media bigwigs receiving the same honor.
The other newly inducted LASTMA Traffic Mayors include Executive Editor of TVC News, Kayode Ladeinde; PUNCH Metro Editor, Joel Nwokeoma; Director of Programs at Traffic Radio, Victor Oteri; Joshua Morakinyo of LTV; Okunade Folarin of Bond 92.9 FM; Opeyemi Makinde of Adamimogo 93.1 FM; Publisher of Integrity News TV, Adeola Oluwole; and Managing Director of National Moments News Online, Kazeem Bakenne; Soares Olaniyi of Mainland FM among others.
The eminent nomination as a LASTMA Media Mayor accorded Oki O. Samson is in recognition of his grand efforts at enhancing the prompt reportage of news and current affairs from the traffic safety agency and aims to intricately integrate him into the noble enterprise of traffic governance, regulation, and control within the Lagos metropolis.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki speaking on the “LASTMA Media Mayor” initiative during the colourful investiture ceremony highlighted: ‘I seize this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to our devoted officers and management staff, whose unwavering commitment underpins the vision and operational excellence of LASTMA.’
‘The “LASTMA Media Mayor” initiative was conceived as a forward-looking platform to formally integrate journalists into the operational matrix of traffic governance in Lagos. The programme is designed to: Amplify collaboration between LASTMA and media practitioners in the real-time dissemination of critical traffic intelligence; Constitute a dedicated corps of journalist-advocates, entrusted with enhancing LASTMA’s public education and road safety campaigns; and Promote transparency, engender trust, and ensure mutual accountability among our officers, road users, and the broader citizenry.’
Bakare-Oki charged: ‘By inducting you today as LASTMA Media Mayors, we confer upon you not merely a ceremonial accolade but a profound fiduciary responsibility to serve as the voice, the conscience, and the reflective mirror of our collective aspiration for a Lagos in which traffic discipline and orderliness prevail unfailingly.’
‘As Media Mayors, your mandate encompasses: ‘The dissemination of accurate, timely, and actionable traffic information to enable commuters to make informed mobility choices; The exposure of infractions, malpractices, and systemic lapses on our roads with the utmost objectivity, integrity, and professional diligence; Active partnership in public enlightenment, continually reminding Lagosians that compliance with traffic regulations constitutes both civic duty and societal virtue; and The provision of constructive, evidence-based feedback to empower LASTMA to refine its strategies and deliver world-class service to the populace.’
In the same vein, the Director, Traffic Advocacy and Special Traffic Mayor, LASTMA, Mr. Awoyemi Jimmy added: ‘This induction ceremony symbolizes a new beginning in manpower, and it’s based on the initiative of the General Manager, who has deem it fit that It is very necessary that we bring on board the media personalities to assist us in hyping and highlighting some of our big achievements. It’s very symbiotic. We hope that you will assist us in making the members of the public know what we have been doing. I specially want to welcome you all, and I see that you’re coming on board to bring about greater and excellent achievements in the mission and goals of LASTMA.’
In his response, the NAOSNP President, Oki O. Samson stated: ‘I want to thank you, GM, for this great innovation and your transformative leadership. Indeed, while we came earlier, I was telling some of my colleagues, that if you notice for the last one year, there has been a decline in unruly behavior that is associated with LASTMA officers. LASTMA just celebrated its 25th anniversary this year and we know what LASTMA used to be many years ago with unprofessional conduct like touting, fighting, etc. There used to be stories of LASTMA officers running after vehicles or getting involved in fighting with drivers on steering. I remember a story, few years ago, that involved a LASTMA officer and a military officer, that were fighting publicly, which the media tagged as a show of shame.’
‘But today, we find that, since you assumed the office as GM, LASTMA has been calm, I don’t know the magic you initiated but my belief is the training you initiated because under your administration, there has been so many training, retraining and orientation engagement. If you are planning a megacity where investors around the whole world are coming every day, then we need to have a state traffic agency that is civil and also going to engage technology in its operations. Mr . Governor of Lagos State has been talking about THEMES+ Agenda of which traffic management is a key focus so this agency has to align.’
The NAOSNP President assured: ‘I want to restate that we will deliver excellently as LASTMA MAYORS and give the agency the best of our support and commitment In order to continue to have free flow of traffic and safer and secure roads in Lagos.’
