Lagos Traffic SOS: LASTMA Unleashes New 3367 Hotline for Rapid Emergency Response

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has officially launched a new toll-free emergency short-code hotline, 3367, marking a significant advancement in the state's efforts to enhance traffic management and emergency response operations. This initiative aims to improve public participation in road transportation administration and strengthen overall accountability across Lagos State. The newly introduced platform is designed to replace LASTMA's previous long-service communication code, offering a more accessible, technologically advanced, and user-friendly system for residents to interact with the agency.

The 3367 short-code is available at no cost to subscribers across major mobile networks, including MTN, Glo, and 9mobile (formerly Etisalat/T2), ensuring broad accessibility for millions of road users. This toll-free service allows residents to report a wide array of traffic-related emergencies without incurring call charges. These incidents include broken-down vehicles, road accidents, stranded tankers, disabled articulated trucks, and various traffic obstructions, all requiring immediate intervention from LASTMA officials.

Beyond emergency reporting, the hotline also serves as a crucial channel for the public to provide feedback on the conduct and operational activities of LASTMA officials. This measure is intended to promote greater transparency, accountability, and professionalism within the agency, reinforcing its commitment to service delivery and public trust. By enabling residents to report on personnel conduct, LASTMA seeks to ensure its officers adhere to the highest standards while on duty.

To ensure inclusivity and facilitate effective communication across the diverse population of Lagos, callers are able to communicate with hotline operators in multiple languages. The platform supports English, Yoruba, and Pidgin English, a multilingual arrangement specifically designed to eliminate communication barriers. This approach encourages wider public participation and guarantees the swift transmission of vital emergency information, irrespective of a caller's linguistic background.

Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager of LASTMA, described the introduction of the 3367 hotline as a monumental stride towards institutionalizing a safer, more efficient, and highly responsive transportation ecosystem in Lagos. He emphasized that the deployment of this short-code reflects the agency's steadfast commitment to adopting innovative digital solutions to address the state's complex transportation challenges and strengthen collaboration with motorists and residents.

Bakare-Oki highlighted that the rapid growth and increasing complexity of Lagos, as one of Africa's largest megacities, necessitate a proactive and technology-enabled traffic management structure capable of responding swiftly to evolving transportation challenges. He reassured residents that all reports received through the 3367 platform would be handled professionally and confidentially before being promptly forwarded to the appropriate operational units for immediate action.

The LASTMA General Manager urged residents and motorists to make effective use of the new hotline as a powerful tool for improving road safety, enhancing accountability, and supporting broader efforts towards a more efficient and sustainable transportation system across the state. This initiative complements the Lagos State Government’s wider strategy to improve emergency response coordination by leveraging digital communication tools and providing residents with quicker access to public safety agencies during critical situations. Furthermore, it aligns with LASTMA's recent technological advancements, including the deployment of surveillance drones, GPS-enabled patrol vehicles, and a central command-and-control system to reduce incident response times.