In its determination to ensure free flow of traffic and safety on
the road, the Lagos State Government on Wednesday commenced the process
of clearing Apapa-Mile 2 axis of illegal parking of tankers and
articulated vehicles.
This action, the Government said, is
aimed at freeing Apapa-Oshodi Expressway of avoidable traffic gridlocks,
and making the axis accessible to other road users.
Speaking
in Lagos after a visit to the area, the General Manager of Lagos State
Traffic Management Authority, Olawale Musa, said despite series of
meetings the Agency had with the stakeholders on the imperative of
freeing Apapa of all traffic impediments, vehicles were still parked on
the roads.
According to Musa, no responsible government would fold its arms and allow lawlessness and impunity to reign.
The
General Manager stressed that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
administration is alive to its responsibilities and will not shy away
from attending to the plight of the people.
According to him, this informed the setting up of a Special Task
Force comprising of Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Navy, Police,
Civil Defence and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority under the
Chairmanship of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgar Imohimi,
to rid Apapa and environ of activities of illegal parking and menace of
articulated vehicles.
He expressed optimism that with the
creation of the Special Task, support and cooperation of other security
Agencies and all stakeholders with LASTMA, issues of illegal parking of
vehicles and other lawlessness will soon become a thing of the past.
Musa noted that at the stakeholders meeting held on November 17,
2017 at the NPA headquarters Marina, activities of articulated vehicles
returning empty containers to the Port was identified as the major cause
of traffic gridlock in the axis, as many of them had to wait up to ten
days to discharge empty containers.
He said: “This made them
to park on the main carriageways for days and in the process impeding
free flow of traffic. This was largely due to the fact that shipping
companies that were supposed to provide holding bays for the empty
containers in accordance with the license issued for them to operate in
the country have either refused to provide or the ones existing were
inadequate. The stakeholders have therefore resorted that henceforth,
these vehicles are to use the following holding bays and terminals which
includes, Comet Terminal, Joatelim, Ballore Transport and Logistics,
HBX Terminal, Unity Bonded Terminal, Falcon Terminal, Port and Marine
services and Duncan Terminal for their activities.”
The LASTMA
boss said the stakeholders also agreed that the all trucks currently
loading at the port will be issued a docket indicating where they should
return their empty containers instead of waiting ceaselessly on the
roads to return themem.
Musa assured the residents of Apapa and Lagos State
in general that the current effort and exercise to restore sanity and
orderliness to Apapa would be a continuous one, warning that anyone who
defies government directive not to impede free flow of traffic will be
dealt with according to the law.
He therefore enjoined all
stakeholders especially the Shipping Council and Shipping Lines to
sensitize and educate their members on the new directive.
According
to him: “People should stop putting individual interest over and above
public interest. Members of the public should also take possession of
the already cleared roads, and not hesitate to inform the Agency of any
broken down or abandoned tankers and trucks on Apapa – Oshodi Expressway
as LASTMA has been empowered and positioned to response promptly to any
distress.”
It would be recalled that owners and drivers of
articulated vehicles illegally parked on the roads at Apapa and environ
have been given up to November 24 to remove them from and failure to do
so would lead to full enforcement of laws.
In its determination to
ensure free flow of traffic and safety on the road, the Lagos State
Government on Wednesday commenced the process of clearing Apapa-Mile 2
axis of illegal parking of tankers and articulated vehicles.
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/gridlock-lagos-begins-evacuation-articulated-vehicles-apapa-oshodi-expressway/
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/gridlock-lagos-begins-evacuation-articulated-vehicles-apapa-oshodi-expressway/
In its determination to
ensure free flow of traffic and safety on the road, the Lagos State
Government on Wednesday commenced the process of clearing Apapa-Mile 2
axis of illegal parking of tankers and articulated vehicles.
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/gridlock-lagos-begins-evacuation-articulated-vehicles-apapa-oshodi-expressway/
Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/gridlock-lagos-begins-evacuation-articulated-vehicles-apapa-oshodi-expressway/
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