Akinwunmi Ambode
Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor, has said that his administration will no longer tolerate indiscriminate parking of trucks on roads in the Apapa area.
The governor said this on Thursday after inspecting major traffic points in the Apapa, Lekki and Ajah areas, saying that he would set up a task force to clamp down on erring truck drivers.
Ambode said the traffic congestion in the area was aggravated by human-induced factors, adding that a lasting solution must be found to the problem. “The gridlock in Apapa is multifaceted. We have examined things that relate to activities of trailer and tanker drivers. It is totally unacceptable that we will be having tankers and trailers on our bridges,” the governor said.
He added that, “It is also not acceptable that they will block Apapa roads. We must do something immediately to tackle the challenges that the residents are facing.”
The governor pointed out that the greater part of the challenge was posed by the tank farm owners, noting that there are about 57 tank farms in the Apapa area. “We have to start to look at the security issues relating to these tank farms. All trailers across the country come to these tank farms. We are going to summon the tank farm owners to tell us their remedy to the menace that we are having in Apapa,” he said.
“Right now, the immediate palliative measure is that we will set up a task force that will involve most of our security agencies to monitor the traffic. We will also pay more attention to enforcement,” he added.
Ambode urged the Federal Government to ensure that the contractor that was awarded the Apapa Road reconstruction return to site.
Meanwhile,Kayode Aderanti, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, said the police observed that there was a connection between infrastructural development and the rate of crime being recorded in the area.
Also speaking, Daniel Ikoli, the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Apapa Naval Base said, “We will continue to support the state government and the police in ensuring security in the Apapa area. We have been present in controlling traffic in Apapa.”
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