Following the disbandment of the Federal Government Task Team on the Apapa gridlock, the Lagos State government is stepping up with a new enforcement team to drive traffic flow in and around Apapa, Nigeria’s premier port community.
The enforcement will be made up of over 500 dedicated officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) backed by well equipped police team.
Government Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Monday while touring Apapa in a renewed effort to find a solution to the intractable gridlock that continues to stifle businesses and residents of port precincts.
Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Lagos command, Hakeem Odumosu, as well as stakeholders in the maritime/transport sub sector. It was about the third time Sanwo-Olu would be visiting Apapa in the quest to address the perennial gridlock since becoming governor on May 29, 2019.
Addressing stakeholders, including truck drivers at the now completed Trailer Park, opposite the Tin Can Port, the governor said it was disheartening the gridlock continues to defy solution, a situation he blamed on human factors and poor port operations.
He said aside from the planned enforcement team, his administration would also be holding talks with the Federal Government and its agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), minister of Transportation, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and port terminal operators on a smarter way of addressing the delays being experienced within the ports which make thousands of trucks spill to the road, and of course, sharp practices and the issue of demurrage.
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Sanwo-Olu sympathised with some of the truck drivers, who told him they have been at the trailer park for three weeks unable to access the ports.
One of the truck drivers, Richard, told BusinessDay he had so far spent 18 days at the park and still does not know he would access the port.
“We all have families. I have exhausted all I had while waiting at this park. I haven’t been able to return to celebrate this festive season with my family neither I have seen money to send to them,” Richard lamented.
