2 weeks after ultimatum on Apapa roads, tankers’ presence now beyond Ambode
Looking for any challenge in Lagos that has proved Governor Akinwunmi Ambode incapacitated to handle, it is trucks and articulated vehicles lining up on highways leading to Apapa ports.
This is based on the fact that 14 days after a two-day ultimatum was handed down to owners of trucks, containers and other articulated heavy duty vehicles to leave major roads and flyovers around the port city of Apapa, they are still lined up, obstructing traffic.
Checks along the highways including Mile 2, Abule Ado axis of Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Ijora, Orile Iganmu, Costain, Ajegunle and even on Eko Bridge on Wednesday, showed that the ultimatum failed completely and there had been no news of attempted arrests of the drivers who are now washing their cloths on the highways and spreading them on their trailer windscreen wipers.
Many Lagos motorists and Apapa residents who spoke to our correspondents argued that forcing out the vehicles is beyond the governor of the state.
Some of them recalled that the same scenario played out in June last year, when the federal government issued seven days ultimatum which was observed but the vehicles resurfaced after the expiration of the order.
Others argued that before the ultimatum will work, there must be more truck loading bays within Apapa or an arrival timetable or schedule must be developed and the drivers trained on how to implement it.
The Lagos State government and the military had on Wednesday, March 7, handed out a 48-hour ultimatum to truck owners, whose vehicles have lined up roads in the state to move them or face the full weight of the law.
The decision was a resolution passed during a meeting with stakeholders, especially truck owners, tank farm owners and members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which was convened to find a lasting solution to the problems of traffic on Lagos roads, particularly in Apapa, Mile 2, Ijora and Kirikiri.
Business Hilights recalls that the representative of the Lagos State government and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mr. Taiwo Olufemi, had lamented the parking of heavy duty trucks on bridges within the state in his remarks during the meeting, saying “The inflow and heavy presence of articulated vehicles into the Lagos Apapa Quays, has created serious gridlock”.
He recalled that the Lagos port was build for only 30 million metric tons of cargo but now carries 80 million metric tons.
While maintaining that there was need to clean up Apapa no matter whose ox is gored, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Slyvanus Abbah who sat as chairman of the meeting lamented the influx of tankers and trailers who park indiscriminately on bridges, explaining that terrorists could take advantage of the chaos to attack Lagos.
He said for instance, to move troops from Navy town in Kirikiri to Apapa, which ordinarily should take 25 minutes may take up to two hours due to the gridlock caused by trucks who spend days waiting for their turn to load fuel.
Transport analysts say apart from the environmental hazards caused by the trucks who park indiscriminately on bridges, he explained that in a situation of national emergency, the reaction time for the military could be hampered.
