The company’s mission is more urgent than ever, given the troubling rise in road traffic crashes and fatalities in the country.

Alarming Road Traffic Trends

Recent data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlight the need to tackle crashes following the human cost of road accidents.

For instance, in 2024, 9,570 road traffic crashes were recorded nationwide, although down 10% from 10,617 in 2023.

Yet the number of fatalities increased by 7%, rising to 5,421 deaths from 5,081 in 2023.

Over the first quarter of 2025, road crashes jumped to 2,650 incidents, resulting in 1,593 deaths, an 8.3% increase in fatalities compared to Q1 2024. Injuries also increased by about 7.4%.

Common causes cited for the high accident rates include speed violations, overloading, driver fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, dangerous driving, and even risky behaviour around tanker crashes (such as scooping fuel), which accounted for over 7% of total deaths in 2024.

Why Tech-Driven Rescue Matters

Against this backdrop, 29Workshop Autotech’s vision takes on greater significance. The company aims to address critical gaps in roadside response:

• Reducing the time between breakdown or crash and the arrival of rescue services.
• Leveraging mobile, tech-enabled tools to detect, locate, and manage roadside emergencies.
• Equipping mechanics and responders with digital tools and tools for remote diagnostics and timely interventions.

“Breakdowns may be inevitable, but the response can be revolutionary,” says Ayoola Akinkunmi, Founder and CEO of 29Workshop Autotech Ltd, told Techeconomy.

The company sees mobile-first rescue, technology-enabled responses, and partnerships with stakeholders like the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) and others, as essential levers to save lives, time, and resources.

The Road Ahead

As Nigeria works toward its ambition of reducing road accidents and fatalities, innovations like those from 29Workshop Autotech will be central.

Key interventions needed include: stricter enforcement of speed limits and overloading laws; better maintenance of road infrastructure and vehicle; deployment of quick, reliable roadside rescue that minimizes time lost and reduces secondary incidents, and public awareness and behaviour change campaigns around dangerous practices.

29Workshop Autotech is positioning itself at this intersection, responding to the crisis with actionable, tech-centric solutions across Nigeria, the UK, and beyond.

This directive is part of the Lagos State Government’s approved 2024 budget, recently signed into law by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Ministry of Transportation aims to contribute N52.48 billion to the state’s revenue, with LASTMA specifically assigned to generate N2,505,000,000 from traffic fines and penalties.

In the 2023 budget, LASTMA was assigned a revenue target of N2.35 billion. By September 2023, the Authority had already collected N703.486 million. However, revenue generated in the last quarter (October-December) was not included in the budget calculations.

In addition to LASTMA, the Ministry of Transportation is expected to contribute N11.28 billion to the state’s revenue, while the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) aims to generate N10.3 billion.

The Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) was allocated a revenue target of N17.059 billion for the current fiscal year. In the preceding year, the agency achieved N7.196 billion in revenue between January and September 2023, out of an initial target of N16.399 billion.

Also, the Lagos State Parking Authority is to generate N4.1 billion in revenue this year. In the previous fiscal year, the agency collected N450.9 million from January to September 2023, against a total target of N1.75 billion.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Number Plate and Production Authority has set a revenue target of N6.2 billion for the current year, exceeding the previous year’s target of N5.23 billion.

The equipment include two units of an air conditioner, a refrigerator, an executive office table, and a chair.

While handing over the equipment in Lagos, Basil Agboarumi, executive director, Corporate Affairs and Governmental Relations, SIFAX Group, said the donation was in line with the company’s commitment to its robust stakeholder engagement across all the sectors it has operations, both locally and internationally.

Agboarumi said the company also believes in the vision of LASTMA which is to ensure Lagosians enjoy logjam-free traffic in the state.

Adewale Adetayo, the General Manager, SIFAX Logistics Company Limited, also noted that the gesture was to strengthen the company’s strategic partnership with LASTMA and also support the new agency’s newly-appointed General Manager.

He said: “We are in the business of transportation and LASTMA is one of our key stakeholders, especially in the area of traffic management. This gesture is to further strengthen our strategic relationship with the agency and to show our support to the new GM who we believe has what it takes to reposition the agency and fulfill the vision of LASTMA.”

Bakare-Oki Olalekan, General Manager, LASTMA, appreciated the company for the donation, adding that effective traffic management is foremost on his agenda and his men have been well motivated to achieve this mandate.

Speaking at the presentation of the gadgets at LASTMA Headquarters in Oshodi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, said the deployment is to ensure increased credibility and confidence in the delivery of effective traffic management and enforcement duties.

He explained that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has invested a lot in the acquisition of technological innovations to address the transport challenges of the State, noting that the body camera is an initiative for accurate traffic management among many other benefits.

Expressing optimism that the body camera would authenticate traffic law violation reports, Giwa assured that the gadget body camera will provide pictorial evidence to help investigate complaints lodged by aggrieved motorists.

The Special Adviser applauded the officers for their renewed commitment to ensuring that the State continues to witness tremendous improved traffic management.

Speaking about the operation of the camera, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, the LASTMA General Manager, stated that the Agency’s officers have been trained and are capable of handling the gadget, adding that the cameras would have a significant effect on deviant behaviour on the roads.

He further explained that the bodycam initiative is a win-win situation for both law enforcement officers and motorists as the regular arguments on traffic laws violation will be put to rest through detailed recordings. Recall that the body cameras were launched in Y2021 by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“Lagos traffic is crazy, it is something I cannot deal with. Àside from using my bike to exercise, it’s easier for me to ride my anywhere,” he said in an interaction with TechEconomy. 

“Now that Lagos State Government has banned Okada, maybe people will start buying bicycles,” he said.””Lagos State Bans Okada”, has become trending news after Governor Sanwo-Olu announced that his government has placed a ban.”

The Okada ban will take effect from June 1st, 2022. This is not the first time Lagos State Government has come up with this idea. Former governors of the state – Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwumi Ambode all placed bans during their various tenures. The implementation of has not being successful. 

TechEconomy gathered that three million Okada riders have trooped into Lagos since 2020. But, at the moment, residents are beginning to wonder if there will be total compliance with the governor’s directive after many failed attempts. 

Among the various reasons why Lagos State banned Okada, are ensuring the security of lives and properties, and reducing criminality.  The state also believes that large numbers of Okada riders are mostly non-residents. 

As a matter of urgency, when it was reported recently that one Sound Engineer was killed and burnt to death by some commercial motorcyclists (Okada rider) in the Lekki, during an argument over N100 additional payment. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu sat down in a roundtable meeting with relevant stakeholders to make the decision to ban Okada. 

The criminal activities carried out by Okada riders are mostly foreigners from Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, and other neighboring countries who have infiltrated the ranks of those genuine riders and are thereby perpetrating all forms of crime.

”No persons shall ride, drive or propel a motorcycle or tricycle on a major highway within the state, and any person in contravention of this provision commits an offense” and would be made to face the wrath of the law,” said Gbenga Omotoso the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos. 

Is Banning Okada in Lagos the Right Step?

While it is understandable the rationale behind the banning of Okada in Lagos. Many Nigerians are still not convinced it’s the best route to follow in solving the security threats posed by Okada riders who are predominantly foreigners. 

“We should stop putting the cart before the horse. When there are good motorable roads and less traffic congestion on Lagos roads, no one will see any reason to mount a bike,” said Aderonmu Adeola, ICT Expert at Funath Global Services.

Adeola posits that if the Lagos State government provides basic infrastructure like good roads, the number of Okada riders will reduce drastically. 

Tosin Akande a graduate of Osun State College of Education, said he isn’t totally against the ban, “but my stand is; what are the alternative means of helping Lagosian beat this daily crazy traffic congestion.”

Akande is also concerned about how Okada riders will cope after the full implementation of the ban from next month; what Okada riders will engage in to make ends meet, adding that being idle and not having a means of livelihood could be catastrophic.

Babatunde Adeniji, an Independent Business Consultant, wondered why the government can’t seem to develop a more creative approach to issues beyond bans. “It’s starting to feel like King Canute history may be repeating itself in Lagos.

“He fears that until the people realize that governance should be a social welfare-focused service and not a master-versus slave affair, “we may continue to have this approach.”He said Okada serves a need due to failures or lack of proper infrastructure. A need can not be banned, can it?

Implications of Okada Ban in Lagos.

Unquestionably, a complete ban, just as it has been successful in Rivers State, will reduce the number of road accidents. 

Data from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation reveal that motorcycles killed over 11,000 people in the state between 2011 and 2019. And at least 600 deaths between 2018 and 2019 are attributable to motorcycles.

Lagos State government is also confident that the incessant conflicts and criminality will record a significant decrease once the implementation kicks off. 

However, there are other pressing issues that remain hanging, such as traffic congestion, lack of infrastructure, scarcity in the availability of jobs, etc. 

Lara Garuba, Founder of Young Lawyers Monitoring Club, said the news on Lagos State banning Okada is 50:50. 

She argued that although the menace of criminal elements exists among Okada riders, the cause needs to be nipped in the bud. However, questioned, what’s the alternate means of transportation for the poor masses?”

“I know we have a thinking governor, so I want to believe he has plans for a better replacement or a structured solution for riders and commuters.”Many Okada riders will be out of jobs which will affect their economic welfare. Unemployment is correlated to criminality.

There are fears that out-of-work persons will be tempted to get involved in crimes just to make ends meet. In reality, the unemployment rate in Nigeria is over 30 percent, but data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Labor Force Survey notes that Nigeria’s unemployment rate was 27% in Q2 2020. 

Garuba said if nothing is being planned, then, what the Lagos State government has done is to put the poor masses in serious jeopardy. “In a state, where a percentage of people still earn below ₦500 per day. Let’s not pour away the bathing water with the baby in it.”

Key Factors Lagos State Should Consider

One of the actions the state needs to do is to fight insecurity in collaboration with the Federal government, especially in the north, Adeola suggested. 

“I know, the vast majority of these riders are not from Lagos, let the FG do the needful on insecurity in the north so our northern brethren can return to their homes,” he said. 

According to Benedict Ogundaye, Mentor and Researcher, a need (Okada) cannot be banned but can be planned for through proper profiling “With the rolling out of NIN and National ID shouldn’t it be easier to regularise without overbearing registration and renewal fees,” Ogundaye said.

He said Okada riders do not need a uniform except if it is a private fleet and they want to distinguish themselves. “But vehicle registration with fixed chip for remote capture, yes,” he added. 

A source who doesn’t want his name revealed that the required solution is to deal with their corrupt practices first. “Corruption of the law enforcement bodies makes nonsense of every new law or ban.

“According to the source, after Babatunde Raji Fashola, a former governor of the state left office, law enforcement seemed like a joke. 

He said both Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police have continually used the law to collect money from the people with total negligence of their primary responsibilities.

“LASTMA of today are known as corporate Agberos. Any commercial bus you see them arrest with the stiff existing laws are those that have now paid their dues,” he said.