In the wake of nationwide insecurity , the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Security, NNS Beecroft , Ovenseri Uwadiae , says the Apapa traffic gridlock is a threat to security around Apapa area of Lagos , southwest Nigeria.
At a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday to find a lasting solution to the persistent traffic gridlock around Apapa and its environs, Uwadiae , who read the resolution of the stakeholders to newsmen, did not mince words when he said the gridlock was a threat to the growing insecurity nationwide .
Uwadiae added that the traffic jam in the area is causing a colossal economic loss to the nation through man - hour loss , closure of businesses , assuring that with commitment and support of the stakeholders to confront the traffic problem, the entire gridlock in the area could become a thing of the past.
According to him, some of the stakeholders’ proffered solutions to the traffic problems at Apapa could be categorised into long and short term solutions , noting that for now , members of the stakeholders had resolved to focus on immediate solutions capable of bringing relief to motorists using Apapa- Mile 2
Expressway.
He said the stakeholders agreed to set up a committee that would implement all the decisions taken at the meeting , adding that the NPA would lead other members of the committee to inspect and ensure that shipping companies owned loading bays in order to reduce the number of trucks around the area and that only trucks that had been approved for loading were within Apapa vicinity .
Furthermore , he said LASTMA, police , NPA and other stakeholders would fashion out routes for trailers and
tankers coming to Apapa-Mile 2 area for business in a way that they would only occupy a dedicated section of the service lane , as this was aimed at bringing about orderliness on the road, while reiterating his conviction that with support of everybody , motorists would soon begin to experience stress- free driving in the area.
“The management of NPA must see to it that concessionaires operating at the port improve on human and facilities in order to reduce time beingspent by trucks at the port entrance , as spill over from the entrance often leads to traffic gridlock.
“Truck owners are to cooperate with the management of the NPA in the area of registration to reduce cases of truck drivers parking within the area to solicit for business in the port as such action is partially responsible for road blockade in Apapa,” he said.
Speaking at the end of the meeting , the General Manager of LASTMA, Engr. Babatunde Edu, reaffirmed the commitment of the agency to move the traffic along the axis and solicited the support and cooperation of other stakeholders for roads to be free of any gridlock.
He said that the agency had a duty and responsibility under the law to solve traffic problem, and that if and when necessary , the agency would resort to enforcement in order to restore road orderliness and sanity.
Stakeholders at the meeting held at the NNS Beecroft , Navy Yard , Apapa, are the Navy , Lagos State Traffic
Management Authority, LASTMA, representative of NARTO (Road Transport Employers Association of
Nigeria ) , AMATO , Police , Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) , UTQEN and the Federal Ministry of Works .
Courtesy:
PM News
