Trucks drivers and touts along Oshodi-Apapa-Expressway have shunned the ultimatum issued by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to sanitize the area in order end the gridlock motorists are facing on the road.
Sanwo-Olu, last Friday, carried out an inspection tour of the axis with an ultimatum to the truckers to vacate the road or face the consequences.
Reports revealed that despite the partial compliance on Monday, the traffic situation is getting worse as touts returned to the Mile-2 axis unchallenged by the Police and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.
The truck drivers claimed they have settled everyone involved in the traffic management along the route, daring the Lagos State government to address the problem by tackling the root cause and other contributory factors, noting that truck drivers are human beings too.
A truck driver, who simply identified himself as Abdullahi, said, “From the look of things, everyone is blaming truck drivers, who are suffering untold hardship on the road while the police, LASTMA, NUPENG officials and area boys, who extort us are left to continue with their exploitations on us on daily basis.”
Abdullahi then called on the state government to meet with all the parties involved in the management of the axis with truck drivers to find a lasting solution to the problem.
“I am appealing to the government to meet with all the parties to find a lasting solution, otherwise their current effort is like scratching the surface of the matter,” Abdullahi said.
He said most of the officials mentioned are living on the sweat of the truck drivers, who spend days under the sun and rain with harassment from the officials and area boys.
Some of the drivers, who preferred anonymity told journalists that the road has become their last bus stop as the government has refused to provide them with rightful places to park.
One of the drivers, who looked quite tired eve queried if he thought that they were happy to work under the conditions they found themselves in.
The driver asked, “Do you think that we are happy to work under this harsh condition without taking our bath for days and with harassment from area boys, Lagos State Transport Management Agency, LASTMA, Police and other security agencies?”
He regretted that it had been their wish that the traffic should flow but those in authority have refused to do something about the whole thing.
“Why have they refused to do something about the harassment and extortion by the various security agencies and area boys?” the driver queried.
On their expectation from the government, the young driver said, “You should ask the Nigeria Ports Authority, LASTMA, Police and area boys why the traffic is not flowing.
“They know why they are making everything difficult for us so that they can make more money daily.”
Meanwhile, Lagos State Government has charged stakeholders’ to meet with port operators tomorrow to address the continued gridlock along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, particularly at the Mile-2 axis of the state.
The stakeholders include leaders of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers; Nigerian Ports Authority, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Transport Management Authority, Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC; Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, Nigerian Navy and the Army, among others.
The Lagos State government had earlier, reconstituted the Joint Security Task Force established to tackle the Apapa gridlock and other security threats within the axis brought about by the blockade of major roads in the area by tankers and containerized trucks.
The Apapa gridlock, in the past few weeks, had worsened due to the breakdown of the earlier Ccall-up system and operations at the ports.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, disclosed that the state government was worried about the development in Mile-2 and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and would not hesitate to wield the big stick if the unions are hellbent not to adhere to the laws of the state.
Giwa said, “Enough is enough. The state government will not tolerate needless lawlessness in the state. As part of efforts to return peace to the area, the Lagos State Government has summoned stakeholders to a meeting on Thursday, September 28, 2023 to restore permanent sanity to the area.
“I can assure you that critical decisions would be made to ensure that normalcy returns and sustained in the area in line with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s directive and commitment to restoring sanity in Apapa.”
Meanwhile, some residents and stakeholders in the axis who were worried over the chaotic traffic on the road, said there must be total enforcement and monitoring of the policy.
Tosin Mogbadunade said, “I am an entrepreneur and I come to Apapa. I frequent the road. Decades ago, it was a commercial centre but many businesses have packed out, shut down or relocated. My parents moved out of Apapa, Area B axis. There should be transport policies put over there and systems that work like Area B, here.
“If I were the government, I would look for the team that worked here and put them over there (Mile-2). Consult and assign them to formulate policies. Empower them with resources. We can start from Oshodi to create parks where trailers/trucks can go there and not stay on the road.
“Apapa doesn’t exist in isolation. So if we are to enjoy these results in Apapa, we have to extend it to the entire environment.”
Also, the Secretary of Apapa Club, Seyi Akinboboye described the traffic situation in Apapa as a living hell.
Akinboboye said, “To enter Apapa from Carter Bridge into Apapa, it takes you up to four, five hours driving in. It was a nightmare but the task force brought sanity into the whole thing.
“However, we need the local government to come in and fix those bad roads because it creates a bottleneck entering Apapa.
Speaking, a councillor in Apapa Local Government Area, representing Ward B, Dambaga Gawuna said, “What we need on this road is coordination and serious monitoring. This means like 6:00 am – 6:00 pm.
“The Lagos State government should use the media to sensitize the people, especially truck owners, and the port users too, that things have changed. There is a need for publicity.”
