(Babajide Sanwo-Olu. photo Credit: ICIR Nigeria)
The Lagos State government has announced plans to introduce its own state-issued driver’s licence in the coming weeks, as part of a broader push to enhance road safety, improve traffic management, and make the licensing process faster and more accessible for motorists.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made the disclosure at a press briefing in Ikeja, revealing that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to give his approval for the scheme’s rollout within weeks.
He clarified that the new licence will not replace the existing federal driver’s licence issued through the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), but will instead serve as an alternative option, giving motorists the freedom to choose between the two.
Osiyemi explained that the primary motivation behind the initiative is to cut down on the lengthy delays that applicants currently face when processing their licences.
He also shared that during a recent review period, a total of 56,876 driver’s licences were processed in collaboration with the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency and the FRSC comprising 27,067 new applications and 29,810 renewals along with 1,158 international driving permits.
On the subject of rail transport, the commissioner provided updates on several ongoing projects. He noted that the second phase of the Blue Line rail project, which will extend the route from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, is on track for completion in the first quarter of 2027.
The first phase of the Blue Line, he added, recorded an impressive 3.5 million passenger trips in 2025 alone.
Osiyemi also disclosed that the state government has procured 24 new train coaches for the Red Line corridor, and that work is advancing on the ambitious 68-kilometre Green Line project, which is designed to connect Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone via Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah, and Sangotedo a development that is expected to significantly ease movement across the state’s busiest corridors.
