*The Lagos State Government says it is set to inaugurate special team next week,  summons stakeholders’ meeting with Nigerian Port Authority, unions, others

Emmanuel Akosile | ConnsumerConnect

Determined to restore sanity to the perennial gridlock in the area of the cosmopolitan city, the Lagos State Government (LASG) has announced the setting up of a special team to take over traffic management in the Apapa area from the disbanded Presidential Task Team (PTT).

ConsumerConnect reports Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said this Monday, December 28, 2020, when he led delegation of the Lagos State Executive Council members and stakeholders on a firsthand assessment of traffic situation at Apapa Ports and environs.

He disclosed that a stakeholders’ meeting involving representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), haulage transport unions, port operators among others will be convened next week.

Sanwo-Olu also revealed the objective of this is to work out means of solving the protracted traffic gridlock in the Apapa area of the state as well as having a more efficient, effective port operations in the general interest of the publics.

During the visit to the area, the team inspected places, such as Lilypond Truck Terminal, Wharf Road, Apapa Port, and Tincan Port and Truck Park, all within Apapa environs.

A section of Apapa traffic gridlock

It was learnt the state government’s inspection followed the disbandment of PTT by the Federal Government, as well as several outcries by members of the public over perennial traffic gridlock which has left residents and workers in the area hapless over time.

Hoodlums and traffic armed robbers have always cashed in on the discomforting situation to unleash their nefarious activities on innocent citizens by dispossessing them of their valuables and sometimes maiming their victims, report said.

The disturbing gridlock created along Apapa corridor has day died all known logic, even with the setting up of the PTT, chaired by Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo and Vice-chaired, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, with the mandate to restore law and order to Apapa ports and environs.

Earlier in his remarks while addressing the media and a hordes of truck drivers at the Tincan Port, in the newly constructed Truck Park, Sanwo-Olu condemned the level of indiscipline among port players with the promise to tackle head-on and eliminate the cabal behind series of extortions been perpetrated by some officials and  security personnel in Apapa and environs.

The governor stated: “This is not the first time, certainly not the second, and in fact, this is about the third or the fourth time in my Government that we are trying to see how we bring better solution to Apapa gridlock.

“On all of the time we have come, we knew that we are having a road construction but you can see now that inside Apapa, there is significant progress in this area particularly on the road construction site. A lot of road has been done.”

According to Sanwo-Olu, “you’re aware that since last year the PTT had been working.

“Now, there is a process that is starting in which the State Government need to take over that task force.

“One of the reasons for this trip is to start that process, to see things for myself.”