The Lagos State Government has charged driving school operators to deliver qualitative driver’s education as part of efforts to address the challenges bedeviling public transportation and enhance road culture across the state.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, gave the charge during the 2025 Train-the-Trainer Workshop organized by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) for driving school operators and instructors.
The event, themed “Drivers Education: Panacea to Economic Growth and Development”, was held at the STO Resource Centre, CBD Alausa, Ikeja.Osiyemi noted that Lagos, with over 20 million residents and nearly six million registered vehicles, records more than 15 million daily motorised trips.
He warned that without competent drivers to manage such movement, the state could face dire consequences, including traffic paralysis, public health crises, and loss of productivity.
However, he stressed that a well-regulated transport ecosystem has the potential to drive economic growth for Lagos, Nigeria, and the West African subregion.
He further explained that the workshop aligns with both global and local policy directions, particularly the United Nations’ Decade of Action on Road Safety campaign, which emphasises driver education as a key tool in reducing road crashes and fatalities.
According to him, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration remains committed to strengthening initiatives that support sustainable transport and safer roads.
Commending LASDRI, the Commissioner highlighted recent innovations by the Institute, including the introduction of computer-based recertification tests, harmonised training modules, data-driven learning processes, and consistent road safety campaigns, especially during the Ember months.
He urged operators to desist from any activities that may undermine government’s efforts in improving road safety.
Earlier, LASDRI’s General Manager, Mrs. Tiamiyu Afusat, described the workshop as a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on policies and challenges affecting the transport sub-sector.
She stressed that beyond teaching driving techniques, quality driver’s education instills responsibility, discipline, and awareness of the rights of other road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr. Olalekan Bakare Oki, represented by Quarter Master Jubril Oshodi, encouraged participants to see the training as a pathway to improved compliance with traffic laws.
The event was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Transportation, representatives of road transport unions, and about 200 driving school operators across the state.
