24 hours after 2 days ultimatum to vacate Lagos roads, trucks increase in numbers—BHIU
Random checks across major federal roads leading to the Lagos ports on Thursday evening have shown that owners of trucks and articulated vehicles lining up on the highways are yet to remove them, rather their number is rising.
A tour of the key highways including Apapa, Mile 2, Costain bridges, Ijora and Kirikiri, parts of Badagry Expressway by Business Hilights Intelligence Unit (BHIU) indicated clear negligence of the position of the Lagos State Government freeing highways for ease of traffic and businesses.
The Lagos State government and the military had on Wednesday, 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.
It would be recalled 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 was chairman of the meeting lamented the influx of tankers and trailers, explaining that terrorists could take advantage of the chaos to attack Lagos.
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.
