For businesses, residents, motorists and other stakeholders, the federal government’s withdrawal of the Presidential Task Team (PTT) on Apapa Gridlock comes with implications, especially on traffic situation and driving experience in the port city.
Though views are mixed on the government’s action, motorists particularly, are apprehensive that traffic situation might get worse with the attendant stress and quality man-hour wasted on the road.
Given the level of corruption allegation against some members of the PTT where Apapa bridges are said to have became market places while check points on the roads have been turned into tollgates, the exit of the task team is seen as a huge plus for Apapa.
“Any new task force on Apapa means increase in the level of bribery and corruption. The PTT was not any different. So, if new traffic managers that may be taking over do not toe that line, the withdrawal of PTT will be an icing on the cake for all stakeholders,” a clearing agent who did not want to be named, said.
At a recent meeting with relevant stakeholders, the federal government decided on withdrawing PTT, which has the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo and Kayode Opeifa as the chairman and executive vice chairman respectively, from managing and controlling Apapa traffic.
Opeifa who confirmed this decision to BusinessDay, however, added that the decision, which was not yet public, would be communicated appropriately by the Presidency and Lagos State government.
“It is true that there was a meeting where a report of the activities of the PTT and the sustainability of its gains and successes was discussed. The report was presented by the chairman of the task team and its prayers approved as presented. But to the best of my knowledge, no official announcement or communication to that effect has been made,” Opeifa said.
The meeting which had representatives of the Vice President, Nigeria Port Authority, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and other federal agencies in attendance, decided to handed over traffic management to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). But that handover is yet to happen.
“We are waiting for the Lagos State government to be properly briefed and officially handed over to as the state governor was not able to join the meeting from Ondo State where he was for the governorship election,” Opeifa explained further to BusinessDay.
The PTT was set up as federal government’s response to the chaotic traffic situation in Apapa. At the outset, the task team had an impressive performance with its well crafted traffic management strategy that was well executed.
Opeifa, in one of his several statements, noted that the team had been able to clear the gridlock and also succeeded in instilling discipline and improving the traffic situation in Apapa. He added that the team had been able to ensure easy access to Apapa for the residents, business owners, and other stakeholders.
But this is no longer the case as the task team, according to some stakeholders, has become an unwelcome guest. In their opinion, the team has failed as Apapa has returned to square-one which the task team, at any given opportunity, blamed on the unwholesome activities of faceless elements working at cross purposes with them.
“The Presidential Task Team overseeing traffic control in Apapa has over-stayed their usefulness; it is unfortunate that the only solution that government has is to set up committees that members would come and see the problem as an opportunity to enrich themselves,” Remi Ogungbemi, chairman of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), noted.
Despite this obvious failure of the task team, concerns are mounting, especially among residents and business owners over the ability of LASTMA to effectively manage Apapa traffic.
“I have my fears that Apapa may get worse when the task team leaves. This is a problem that the military couldn’t solve. Taking this decision now that businesses are gradually returning to the port city in the hope things will get better may not help anybody,” Ben Olikeze, a business owner, noted.
“ Unless LASTMA increases its capacity in terms of logistics and equipment, I don’t see them managing traffic here so well that there will be sanity on the roads and bridges. And judging from their activities on other Lagos roads, one can only say time will tell the fate that awaits motorists on this route,”Olikeze added.
