From Muyiwa Adegbite, Lagos
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has officially unveiled its new 3367 toll-free short code hotline to strengthen emergency response and enhance traffic management.
The agency described it as a strategic initiative designed to fortify emergency response operations, optimise traffic management efficiency and deepen public participation in the administration of road transportation across Lagos State.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
Bakare-Oki noted that the newly introduced short-code represented a significant migration from the agency’s former long-service code platform to a more accessible, technologically advanced and citizen-oriented communication framework.
He added that the platform, available toll-free on MTN, Etisalat (T2), and Glo networks, would enable millions of subscribers to report traffic-related emergencies and incidents without financial burden.
“Through the 3367 hotline, road users can promptly notify LASTMA of vehicular breakdowns, road traffic collisions, disabled articulated vehicles, stranded tankers, traffic obstructions and other emergencies requiring urgent intervention.
“Importantly, the platform will also serve as a credible avenue through which the public may report the conduct, professionalism and operational activities of LASTMA personnel on duty, thereby reinforcing transparency, accountability and service excellence within the agency,” he said.
He stated that to further inclusivity and effective communication, the public, particularly motorists, may communicate with hotline operators in English, Yoruba or Pidgin English when calling the 3367 platform.
He said this multilingual approach aimed to eliminate communication barriers, encourage wider public participation and ensure that emergency information was conveyed promptly and accurately, irrespective of linguistic background.
Bakare-Oki described the initiative as a landmark advancement in the agency’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives, facilitating seamless vehicular mobility and delivering a more responsive, technology-driven and citizen-centred traffic management system.
According to him, deploying the hotline underscores LASTMA’s resolve to harness innovative digital solutions to address contemporary transportation challenges while fostering stronger collaboration between the Agency and the motoring public.
“The inauguration of the 3367 toll-free short-code hotline represents another monumental stride towards institutionalising a safer, more efficient and highly responsive transportation ecosystem across Lagos State.
“It provides residents with a direct, convenient and cost-free channel through which incidents requiring immediate intervention can be promptly reported,” Bakare-Oki said.
He further noted that the complexity and rapid expansion of Lagos, one of Africa’s foremost megacities, necessitated a proactive, technology-enabled traffic management architecture capable of responding expeditiously to evolving road transportation challenges.
The general manager assured residents that all reports received through the platform would be treated with the utmost professionalism, confidentiality, and diligence, and transmitted to the appropriate operational units for immediate action.
He urged the public to embrace the hotline as a vital instrument for enhancing road safety, strengthening accountability, and supporting the collective aspiration for a safer, more efficient, and sustainable transportation environment across Lagos State.