Motorists hail taskforce’s resilience on Apapa traffic control

The resilience of the taskforce constituted by the Lagos State to see to the flow of vehicular traffic inbound Apapa, against the backdrop of the gridlock induced by the activities of petroleum tankers and container-bearing trucks has caught the fancy of motorists and commuters, who say the taskforce’s sense of commitment to duty is paying off.

According to motorists who spoke with BD SUNDAY, some level of sanity has been restored on the roads inbound Apapa as members of the taskforce are seen daily dishing out orders to stubborn and recalcitrant truck drivers to maintain the one-lane queue arrangement that allows other motorists free access on the other unoccupied lane.

The motorists particularly praised the taskforce members for preventing accidents of the magnitude that occurred at Ojuelegba, Surulere, by their monitoring activities on the dilapidated Ijora-Apapa Bridge.

The taskforce comprises soldiers, naval ratings, policemen, officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). It was set up by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode about two months ago following ceaseless public outcries that trailed the blockade of roads and bridges leading to Apapa, Nigeria’s premier port community where imported petroleum products are discharged in addition to increasing cargo volume berthing at the ports, resulting in thousands of trucks entering the area daily.

The traffic crisis had reached a crescendo, forcing businesses and residents to seek alternative locations outside Apapa as it became almost impossible to drive in and out of the commercial cum residential community. Tankers and trucks of various sizes daily swarmed the Ijora-Apapa Bridge which itself had long manifested signs of weakness as the tankers converted it to a parking lot.

For motorists, commuters and port operators, entering Apapa was at the risk of life and comfort as they had to spend between four and six hours on the road. Staff of business organisations within would rather stay late night in their offices than risk being trapped in the gridlock where hoodlums robbed and walked away unchallenged.

However, in the last two months, some relief had been noticed on the Ijora-Apapa axis as soldiers working together with LASTMA and the police have, to some extent, succeeded in whipping the tanker and truck drivers into line, to the admiration of motorists who praise their effort and sense of commitment to the task.

“I give kudos to the soldiers and policemen working with them. I can see high level of commitment and a sense of duty since they came to the road, especially the Marine Bridge. You see them running up and down trying to get the tankers queue up so that one is allowed free for other motorists. They should be commended,” said a motorist who identified himself as Abayomi.

Lucas Igere, who also spoke with BD SUNDAY, acknowledged the efforts of the taskforce members. According to the port operator, the drafting of soldiers to assist the police and LASTMA was a well thought-out idea. He noted that previous attempts at ensuring that the tankers and truck drivers key into the one-lane arrangement failed because “there may have been some compromise”.

“But now we see the taskforce men at the round-about on Iganmu-Ijora Flyover close to the National Arts Theatre, the Marine Bridge descending to Mobil Road (former Malu Road) and in front of Area ‘B’ Police Command, Apapa and other strategic points directing the tankers and trucks to queue up in order to allow other motorists drive freely into Apapa. That’s a welcome development,” said Igere.

However, Remi Ogungbemi, national president of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) sees this as a temporary relief. According to him, the traffic challenge in Apapa requires a holistic approach.  He believed that with the space meant for trucks within the ports given via the concession of the ports by the Federal Government, the tank farms and the roads in their present state of disrepair, the problem in Apapa will continue.

He restated the need for Lagos State and Federal Government to collaborate to tackle the problem confronting the port community especially now that both governments have party affiliation and work in tandem.

Governor Ambode had, during his visit to Apapa in June this year, constituted the taskforce to ensure a free flow of traffic into the community, promising to liaise with the Presidency towards expediting action on the trailer park opposite the Tincan Port which seemed abandoned and the poor state of roads leading to Apapa.

“What we want to do is firstly to appeal to the Federal Government and especially Mr. President that the contractor working on this particular bridge should come back to site and once we are able to open the trailer park, we would be able to allow other trailer and tankers to use the park,” said Ambode.