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Tag: Apapa gridlock

  • How Apapa gridlock can be checked, by Ambode

    At 12th Town Hall, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode proffered lasting solution to Apapa gridlock, reports WALE
    AJETUNMOBI

    The perennial traffic gridlock in Apapa, Lagos and the adjoining axis is now alarming.Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode knows this fact and has proferred lasting solution to the chaos in the axis.

    The governor is convinced that when these solutions are implemented never again will Lagosians see sections of the bridges and roads leading to Apapa from Western Avenue and Oshodi-Apapa Expressway turn into parking lots for tankers, containerised trucks and articulated vehicles.

    A few weeks back,  the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway was completely blocked by articulated vehicles because of the breakdown of operations at the Ports. The situation led to complete state of chaos with attendant negative effects on the people and the economy of not just Lagos State, but Nigeria considering the strategic importance of Apapa to the nation’s economy.

    Lagos State government constituted a Task Force headed by Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal to restore sanity. The Task Force had membership drawn from all security agencies and relevant unions within the maritime sector.

    The Task Force was able to clear the service lane within 72 hours in an operation through which over 2000 articulated vehicles were removed from the road and taken to designated holding bays.

    Ambode also followed up the initial gains with a meeting with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), maritime unions, among others. At the meeting, the government suspended further approval  for development of Tank Farms, and issued 30-day ultimatum to existing Tank Farms without adequate loading bays to do so, in order to forestall a situation where tankers would have to park on the road while waiting to be called up to load petroleum products.

    The DPR was also directed to implement the directive at the expiration of the ultimatum.

    Speaking at the 3rd Quarter 2018 Town Hall Meeting, Ambode lay bare the activities of government and discussed the ways out to end the perennial gridlock in Apapa.

    The governor urged the Federal Government to revive existing Ports in other states of the federation, saying such was important to bring about permanent solution to the perennial traffic congestion in Apapa axis.

    The Town Hall Meeting, the 12th in the series since the inception of the Ambode administration, was held last Wednesday at the Community Primary School, Iberekodo in Ibeju Lekki Local Government.

    Ambode said the recent chaos witnessed in Apapa was beyond traffic issues.

    He said beyond getting other ports up and running, the issue of tankers queuing up to lift petroleum products from Tank Farms in Apapa was also a major issue causing gridlock and damaging road infrastructure in the area,  which, according to him, was inimical to the economic growth of not just the state, but Nigeria in general.

    Ambode said: “It would be very unfair to Lagosians if I don’t talk about issues relating to traffic management and integrated transport management most especially what we have witnessed in the last one week in Apapa, but again I would like to tell Lagosians that every stakeholder that is relevant to resolving the Apapa crisis, we have gone to work and you can see that there is a major improvement.

    “But again, this issue has become perennial and in the last six years, it’s always been there, it comes and goes, but the challenge is to be able to find a permanent solution and in that reason Mr. President had directed the Vice President to come and see what the situation is and to actually give us a permanent solution. We are grateful to Mr. President; we believe strongly that every layer of government should collaborate to be able to resolve this Apapa crisis.

    “But we all must know that Apapa crisis is more than traffic issues. That is where all states depend on for revenue through Customs because the revenue is shared at FAAC. If anything goes wrong in the Port, whatever they get from Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) could reduce.”

    The governor also noted that oil pipelines should be revived to discourage the trend of thousands of trucks coming from other parts of the country to lift petroleum products from Apapa.

    “It is bad that we still use truck to lift petroleum products from Apapa to other parts of the country. As it is now, other ports in Nigeria must begin to work immediately to decongest gridlock in Lagos; whatever has led to continual use of trucks to lift fuel, which is, vandalism of pipeline should be addressed immediately.

    “We believe that this will allow the roads to become free. We don’t need to continuously use tax payers’ money to build road that were destroyed by tankers. We call on the Minister of Petroleum and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to work towards reviving the pipelines,” he said.

    Ambode expressed concern about the approval for the development of tank farms in Ijegun area of Lagos, saying that as much as the State supports redistribution of tank farms, such should be located in areas that are not populated.

    “We don’t need tank farms within Lagos metropolis anymore. There are 86 tank farms in Apapa alone. That is a serious danger waiting to happen. Beyond Apapa, they have approved tank farms in Ijegun axis and that is where we have huge population.

    “We need to redistribute tank farm establishment to outer borders and other parts. This is what we believe should be done at this moment to free Lagos roads,” he said.

    On the efforts of his administration to develop the economy of the state, Ambode said his administration would continue to keep faith with its mandate to ensure that the future of Lagos remains on a sound pedestal.

    He said the town hall meeting, which had moved round the three senatorial districts in the state from its first edition held in October 6, 2015, has continued to provide the government with first hand information on the needs of the people and how best to solve them.

    “Our promise from the very beginning was that we are going to give you a government of inclusion and it’s very clear that we are on track. When we look at our scorecard, which is to keep Lagos on a trajectory of growth and development, we are on that track.

    “We are happy to be here. We are everywhere meeting the needs of our people, asking them what the issues are and wanting to respond positively to those issues. Yes, we are not perfect, we would try our best but our people know that we are doing things that would create prosperity for their future,” Governor Ambode said.

    Besides, the Governor said that his administration was not oblivious of the fact that the Eastern and Western axis of the State were pivotal to the future prosperity of Lagos.

    Giving an insight on the next plan of action for the Ibeju Lekki axis, the governor  said the construction of the Epe Airport and reconstruction of the Coastal Road were very much on course, adding that the dualisation of the Eleko Junction to the T-Junction in Epe would commence in January 2019, while the 27 network of roads in Ojokoro, Ayinke House, among others would be completed before the next quarter.

    Ambode appealed to people to bear with the State Government over the inconveniences they might be experiencing as a result of ongoing construction works across the State, saying the government was very much aware, and was working towards delivering the projects on schedule.

    “I want to appeal to the people to please bear with us on the infrastructure projects across the State. We are working towards delivering them on schedule. A little pain for greater joy and so I like to appeal to the people to cooperate with us,”  Ambode said.

    The governor thanked traditional rulers, community heads and residents of Ibeju Lekki for their unflinching support towards the advancement of the multibillion dollar projects ongoing in the Lekki Free Trade Zone. He assured that all issues relating to compensation would be resolved before the end of the week.

    Ambode announced the commencement of recruitment of 1,000 teachers in the State, adding that more would be recruited as the need arises.

    He said his administration would go back to the drawing board and respond accordingly to issues raised, appealing to residents to be patient as the Government would continue to deliver more life changing projects to make life more comfortable for the people.

    At the meeting which was also attended by heads of security agencies including the Commissioner of Police, Ambode directed immediately action on security issues raised by residents, saying one of the cardinal objectives of his administration was security of lives and property.

    A physically challenged resident and graduate of Computer Studies, Micheal Ogunyemi, who said he had been jobless for five years, could not hold back his joy as the governor directed the Civil Service Commission to grant him immediate employment from August 1.

    On the traffic around new Jubilee Bridge in Ajah , Ambode directed the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Olawale Musa to immediately move in to free the axis. He said State Government would specifically work with Local Government to relocate a market in the area which was contributing to the traffic, while proposal for more personnel should be brought forward in the event of lack of adequate manpower for the traffic management agency.

    Also responding to issues raised by some physically challenged persons on difficulty to make use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along Ikorodu road corridor and access part of the N500million Disability Fund set aside to take care of their needs by his administration, Governor Ambode directed the relevant agencies to sit up and do the needful to make life comfortable for the people.

    He also directed the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) to come up with modalities to establish the branch of the office in each of the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) for ease of operation, while other relevant agencies were directed to address various issues raised by residents.

    He particularly expressed satisfaction with the fact that the Town Hall was meeting the objectives for which it was established, saying many of the revelations would not have been possible for him to access.

    “For me, I am particularly happy with the fact that the Town Hall Meeting is meeting the objectives for which it was established. I mean if I sit in my office in Alausa, there is no way I could get the feedback I am getting here and that is one of the reasons I am happy that we set this up.

    “I also want to appreciate the people for coming out to tell us what they want us to do and the areas we need to intervene. For me, I will continue to work hard to make life comfortable and better for our people,” Governor Ambode said.

    Indeed, an analyst, Dr Mahmud Zukoji, who watched the town hall meeting live on television in far away Kano State, said: “Watching the live coverage of the town hall meeting in Ibeju Lekki gives one the positive impression that democracy can work for us if those in leadership create the right environment for it to work”.

  • Apapa gridlock: Fed Govt to revive other seaports in few months

    •Ambode calls for relocation of tank farms, others

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo  (SAN) yesterday said plans were underway for the decentralisation of the country’s seaports.

    Osinbajo spoke in Lagos at a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the traffic congestion in Apapa and its consequences on the people and nation.

    According to him, the government had put in place maritime security arrangement for all areas, adding that the other ports (Calabar, Port Harcourt, Warri, Sapele, Koko) would be frequently used in a couple of months.

    Osinbajo said: “Security situations in the past hindered operations of the other ports in the country. But now, the government had approved maritime security arrangement for all areas and within a couple of months, these ports would be frequently used.”

    The Vice President also blamed the Federal Ministries of Works and Transportation as well as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the worrisome situation of things in Apapa axis, noting that there was no excuse on the part of government.

    Osinbajo assured Nigerians that all approvals said to be delaying the repairs and building of the bad roads would be gotten within two weeks.

    He said: “We are working hard to get approvals to do all the roads, especially Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and Mile Two to Liverpool. We are trying to look at immediate steps that could be taken to speed up the process.

    “We will get all approvals within two weeks to do the work. We know the state of the road, especially Coconut, Tin Can Island, Warehouse, Leventis and Creek Road.

    “Also, the government has entered into talks with a new contractor for the refurbishment of the narrow gauge rail, which would take some of these containers out of port area.

    There was an earlier arrangement with General Electric (GE), but that did not yield result.”

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode described the situation as a national emergency, decrying the presence of 86 tank farms within Apapa.

    He urged the Federal Government to make other ports functional so that some importation would be moved there, thereby developing the Internally Generated Revenues  (IGRs) of the states.

    According to Ambode, although Lagos State was generating resources from the activities of ports, it was spending a lot of money, which could have been used in building hospitals, other social amenities for road and bridges repairs.

    Noting that the issue was not within his jurisdiction, Ambode said from information he received, the NPA, Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) should be urged to operate from the three port gates.

    Ambode said: “This issue is not within my jurisdiction. So, I  will plead with the NPA, Ministry of Transportation and Customs. From intelligence gathered, Customs only operate on one gate and there are three gates at the port.

    “This is making us not have good inflow and outflow. Allowing trucks to operate from the three gates will create efficiency in operation.

    “There is also need to talk to the Minister of Petroleum (Muhammadu Buhari) to review why there are 86 tank farms within Apapa and they have proceeded to approve another eight at Ijegun.

    “These are residential areas. Where are things like these done? It means there is a problem somewhere. How did we get to a stage where a residential axis is compounded with tank farms, ignoring the essential national security challenges that might arise from it?

    “We need to relocate these tank farms to border towns and then, we ensure our pipelines are working. With this, products can be moved from Atlas Cove to other places.

    “Moreover, most of these tank farms do not have loading bays. Do they? You cannot have six to eight outlets and tankers will be parking on or under bridges. How much do you pay in tax that you will now be inconveniencing others?”

    Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi the solution to the bedlam was use of technology.

    Amaechi also supported the decentralisation of seaports, noting that concentrating import activities in Lagos was fuelling the problem.

    He said: “We have had stakeholder meetings. We have discovered that a similar problem was experienced in Iraq and Jordan. Also, all Nigerians cannot import through one place.

    “We have six ports across the country and so, if all of the imports come through Lagos, that certainly will not work. We cannot have these kinds of trucks we see on the road coming to the sea port.

    “We need to discipline the terminal operators because they are law unto themselves.”

    Setting the tone for the deliberation, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Okon Eyo, said the gridlock was caused by use of rickety vehicles by transporters, indiscipline of road users and bad roads.

    Also at the meeting were representatives from the Ministry of Works and Housing, PTML, Apapa Residents Association, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers, APMT, Nigerian Navy, the police and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and AMARTO, among others.

     

     

    Port concession agreement may be revoked

    THE Federal Government might revoke the seaports concession agreement it entered into with terminal operators during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

    Minster for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said this yesterday during the stakeholders’ meeting on the lingering bedlam occasioned by activities of truck drivers to and from Apapa seaport.

    The meeting, which was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), was held at the headquarters, Western Naval Command  (WNC), Apapa.

    According to Amaechi, he would submit the issue to the Federal Executive Council  (FEC) for a possible revocation of the concessions because the concessionaires were not sticking to the terms of operation.

    He said: “Concessioners not sticking to terms of agreement. We might have to go back to the FEC to ask for a revoke of the concessions. We are currently reviewing the concession agreement.”

    But, the stakeholders at the meeting blamed the shipping companies, tank farm owners as well as the Federal Ministry of Works for the congestion, noting that while the company and tank farm operators had refused to operate holding bays for their trucks, the ministry was too slow in repairing bad portions of the roads.

    They also accused the shipping firms of deliberately fuelling the traffic through its demurrage policy, which makes empty containers flood the roads so that they could beat deadlines and collect their money.

    According to the Managing Director, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, the shipping companies were acting in disregard of the law.

     

  • Ambode seeks revival of other ports to check Apapa gridlock

    The reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will begin in two weeks, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said yesterday.

    At the Third Quarterly Town Hall Meeting at Iberekodo, Ibeju-Lekki, Ambode said the road had been in a bad state for too long.

    He  noted that traffic has improved in the axis in the last one week compared to what it was some few weeks ago.

    According to him, the gridlock has become perennial, and going and coming is pathetic.

    “But the challenge is to give a permanent solution and in that reason, the President (Muhammadu Buhari) has directed the Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo)  to visit Lagos and provide permanent solution,” he said.

    Ambode asked that ports in other states be revived to resolve the perennial traffic congestion in Apapa.

    Beyond reviving other ports, tankers queuing up to lift petroleum products from tank farms in Apapa is also a major issue causing gridlock and damaging road infrastructure there.

    The governor said: “It would be very unfair to Lagosians if I don’t talk about issues relating to traffic management and integrated transport management most especially what we have witnessed in the last one week in Apapa, but again I would like to tell Lagosians that every stakeholder that is ?relevant to resolving the Apapa crisis, we have gone to work and you can see that there is a major improvement.

    “We are grateful to the President for his intervention. We believe that every layer of government should collaborate to resolve the crisis. But we all must know that Apapa crisis is more than traffic issue.

    “That is where all states depend on for revenue through Customs because the revenue is shared at the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). If anything goes wrong in the port, whatever they get from the place could reduce. It is a national issue and it must be addressed as same immediately.

    “It is bad that we still use trucks to lift petroleum products from Apapa to other parts of the country. As it is now, other ports in Nigeria must begin to work immediately to decongest gridlock in Lagos.”

    Ambode called on the Minister of state of Petroleum and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to work towards reviving the pipelines.

    He thanked the Federal Government for shifting the date for the repair of the Third Mainland Bridge.

    The governor said his administration had kept faith with the people.

    “Our promise from the very beginning was that we are going to give you a government of inclusion and it’s very clear that we are on track. When we look at our scorecard, which is to keep Lagos on a trajectory of growth and development, we are on that track,” he said.

    On his plan for Ibeju Lekki,  Ambode said the construction of the Epe Airport and reconstruction of the Coastal Road were on course, adding that the dualisation of the Eleko Junction to the T-Junction will begin in January. He promised to complete the 27 network of roads in Ojokoro and Ayinke House, among others before the next quarter.

    He directed the recruitment of 1,000 teachers adding that more would be recruited as the need arises.

    A physically-challenged graduate of Computer Studies, Michael Ogunyemi, who has been jobless for five years could not hold back his joy when the governor directed the Civil Service Commission to employ him from August 1.

  • Apapa gridlock: Lagos suspends approval for tank farms

    As part of measures to sanitise the chaotic traffic situation in Lagos especially in the Apapa axis caused by indiscriminate parking of trailers and tankers, Lagos State Government has suspended further approval of tank farms.

    The government gave owners of tank farms 30 days to have adequate holding bay, or face sanction.

    This was part of the resolutions of a meeting between representatives of the Federal and Lagos State governments and stakeholders in the maritime industry.

    The meeting was held at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday.

    Others in attendance are Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Shippers Council, tank farm owners, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and security personnel.

    The federal government delegation was led by NPA Managing Director Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman while Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led the state team that include Commissioner of Transport Ladi Lawanson and Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello.

    Lawanson, who read out the resolutions, said a security task force has been constituted by the government to work continuously for 30 days to bring sanity to the roads.

    Other resolutions include: that the sanctions on shipping companies for non-compliance on utilisation of holding bay have been extended by five days and will be reviewed thereafter.

    “Federal ministry of Power, Works and Housing is to commence palliative measures on bad portion of access roads” and “trailers not called upon and found trampling will be  sanctioned.

    “Lagos is to accelerate completion of Orile Trailer Park; all truck and tanker owners must be duly registered and well regulated by their unions and unions will be accountable for their adherence to extant rules and regulations.

    “NPA in collaboration with Lagos will license trailer parks whereby only trucks housed in those designated parks will be granted access.”

  • Apapa gridlock worsens with alleged extortion by security officials

    In addition to the poor road conditions and lack of truck holding bays, the nefarious activities of some security officials, especially those of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Police drafted to control traffic on major roads in Apapa, are responsible for the resurgence of gridlock in the area, findings carried out yesterday has shown.

    It was gathered that only truck drivers that part with a minimum of N10,000 per truck are allowed access into the port by the security operatives while others are detained on the already choked road.

    The gridlock assumed a worrisome dimension on Wednesday morning as traffic on major routes in and out of the port city came to a standstill.

    The stretch of traffic extended from the Tin Can Island Port end to Mile 2 with all the lanes on the ever-busy Apapa-Oshodi expressway blocked by trucks and tankers.

    The Ijora Wharf end did not fare any better as trucks and tankers occupied a major chunk of the road with the queue stretching to as far as Obanikoro on Ikorodu road. Many motorists had to abandon their vehicles to trek long distances to get to their destinations.

    Further findings revealed that the resurgence of the gridlock is not far-fetched as only those who pay certain amount of money were given the right of passage to the port.

    A port security officer attached to one of the terminals at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) Apapa accused security operatives responsible for directing traffic in Apapa of turning the gridlock situation to “big business”.

    He said on Tuesday night for instance, only trucks belonging to Flour Mills Nigeria were allowed into the port from midnight until 5am “for reasons best known to them”.

    The port security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Apart from the bad stretch from the back of Leventis through under Marine Bridge to Ijora ascent that requires urgent palliatives, Police and Naval officials aid certain categories of people to disrupt the flow of outbound traffic.

    “On Tuesday night, all outbound traffic was stopped from about 2359 hours till 0515 hours for Flour Mills trucks to drive one-way to their facility.”

     

     

  • Lagos seeks federal intervention on Apapa gridlock

    •Govt sympathises with residents, commuters

    The Lagos State Government yesterday sought the intervention of the Federal Government in enforcing the rule that all haulage operators must, as a matter of urgency, have designated parks.

    Its Information & Strategy Commissioner Kehinde Bamigbetan who made the assertion, expressed the state government’s sympathy with Lagosians on the chaotic traffic situation on the roads leading to the seaports at Apapa.

    In a statement, Bamigbetan sympathised with the commuters and residents of Apapa and other parts of the state over the lingering gridlock created by trucks and articulated vehicles.

    He expressed sadness over the difficulties faced by motorists and commuters seeking the use of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and other routes leading to the busiest ports in the West African sub-region.

    According to the commissioner, security agencies have been directed to deploy their officers to the trouble spots for traffic control and bring immediate succour to the people.

    Bamigbetan said President Muhammadu Buhari had assured Lagos State that the Federal Government would tackle the matter decisively, noting that the latest hardship made the much-needed intervention extremely imperative.

    He blamed the renewed congestion on the recalcitrance of truck owners and tanker drivers to fully comply with the subsisting directive that restricts their movement within the state.

    Bamigbetan also attributed the worsened situation to the ongoing industrial action by a section of workers at the Apapa ports.

    He said: “This has slowed down the pace of goods clearance as well as the slow pace of repair works on the roads leading to the ports, most of which are federal roads.

    “The recent rehabilitation of the truck park at Orile Iganmu, with capacity to take 3,000 trucks, showed the commitment of the state government to address the enormous traffic challenge.”

    He urged the haulage stakeholders to save residents from the threat of carnage on the highways by adhering to the directive and also invest in truck terminals themselves.

    The commissioner regretted that the ongoing rehabilitation of roads in Apapa and its environs and the efforts toward sanitising truck entry procedures had pushed the trucks to other parts of the city.

    The commissioner said this was all because the haulage operators had continued to illegally turn major roads to parks, thereby using public facilities to increase their private profit.

    Bamigbetan said that the state government would not allow its highways to be turned to death traps, calling for speedy delivery of the roads under reconstruction within the axis.

     

  • Importers, truck owners groan over Apapa gridlock

    Truck owners and importers have urged the Federal Government to address the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway gridlock to alleviate their suffering.

    According to them, the gridlock on the Apapa port access road is affecting haulage services and other businesses.

    Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) President Chief Remi Ogungbemi said despite the efforts of the government and agencies such as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Navy, Army and the police, the gridlock remained intractable.

    According to him, the traffic congestion has become a national embarrassment and a solution to it should be the priority of those in government, terminal operators and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

    “Apapa traffic has become a perennial problem with no solution in sight. We have had orders from the Nigerian Navy, NPA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and other agencies, to no avail. The trucks are still there for days and weeks; either waiting to be loaded or to drop empty containers. My members are the ones at the receiving end; as they waste several man-hours daily.

    “Their trucks could no longer make several trips a week as they managed to go only a trip per week,” Ogungbemi told The Nation.

    A vehicle importer, Mr Raphael Lawson, said the situation was affecting the presidential directive on Ease of Doing Business at the ports. He urged the agencies at the ports and the stakeholders to stop the blame game and come up with solution to the problem.

  • Apapa gridlock: Naval, police operatives clash

    Motorists and other road users yesterday fled to safety after some policemen and naval operatives engaged in fisticuffs.

    The incident, which occurred at Ijora Underbridge along Wharf Road, Apapa, was said to have been as a result of control of articulated vehicles to ease gridlock in the axis.

    It was gathered that two policemen identified as Sergeants Tunde and Mogbojuri both deployed as part of the Taskforce controlling articulated vehicles, were beaten by some naval men who drove a van marked GGE499DZ, with the inscription OPMESA 3 on it.

    According to witnesses, the OPMESA operatives had given instruction to truck and tanker drivers coming from Western Avenue to keep moving towards Apapa, not knowing that there was a directive from the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT for these vehicles to turn under the bridge to avoid blocking the road.

    As the trucks made to turn under the bridge, it was gathered that these soldiers moved to stop them by attempting to hit their vehicle but whip hit Sergeant Tunde, who was beside one of the tankers directing it to turn.

    A fight was said to have ensued between the duo, which escalated with the involvement of their colleagues.

    Sergeant Tunde, a witness said, was beaten to a pulp and his uniform torn in the fight that lasted about 20 minutes.

    A source said: “The naval men beat up the policemen. They overpowered them and so, the policemen ran to the station to report. They returned to the scene with their Oga (boss) and they all moved to the Naval Base.”

    Contacted, the spokesman for NNS BEECROFT, Charles Brinemigha said the issue has been addressed.

    He said: “There was build-up of traffic and there was an instruction for trucks to turn. So, personnel who wasn’t among the team and did not know what the instruction was told the vehicles to keep moving.

    “When he saw that they were turning, he wanted to hit the vehicle but his whip fell and knocked a policeman. That was how the issue started. It was just a misunderstanding and has been taken care of. The Commander has taken action.”

  • Ambode: how we’ll end Apapa gridlock

    The Lagos State government will fix  the 3000-capacity Abat Truck Terminal in Orile-Iganmu, Lagos mainland, to end perennial traffic in Apapa axis.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode made this known at the second quarter 2018 Town Hall Meeting at the Apapa Amusement Park.

    He said he was concerned about the hardship people were going through because of the activities of containerised trucks and tankers.

    He said: “We have a major challenge in Apapa, the menace of trucks on our roads and bridges causing endless traffic and loss of business time by Lagosians. This is why we have come here today. To see for ourselves and find a solution.

    “Effective today, our government will take over the Abat Truck Terminal, Orile-Iganmu and commence immediate repairs to make the park ready for effective use. In the meantime, we will appeal to the Tanker Drivers Association to conduct themselves in an orderly manner and cooperate with our task force to ensure smooth flow of traffic and better access to the Ports.

    “We thank the people of Apapa for enduring such harsh conditions but I assure you that this situation will be a thing of the past by the end of this year.”

    Ambode said the truck terminal would accommodate at least 3000 trucks, adding that the government was already working with security agencies to see how some of the trucks parked on the Western Avenue Bridge would be moved into the park.

    “Already, we have cleared the shanties and the way we are trying to run it is such that we will be able to accommodate at least 3,000 trucks in the park. In addition to that, we will work with security agencies and see how we can move the trucks into the park because right now the park can accommodate about 300 trucks but the people are not using it.

    “So, if I tell you that one of the areas that I always feel very bad about is this Apapa gridlock and that is the truth and that is why I have decided that let us bring all our resources together; let’s discuss with people; let’s also talk to the experts and see what is happening there,” he said.

    The governor, while responding to complaints from residents on the menace of motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders, directed the police and other security agencies to enforce the State Traffic Law, especially with regards to their restriction on major highways and roads to bring about sanity in Apapa.

    He added that as part of his administration’s efforts to regenerate the axis, Fadaini Road, which is in a deplorable state, would be fixed while Orile-Mile 2-Trade Fair-CMS Road would also be repaired to open up alternative roads for motorists plying the axis.

  • Apapa Gridlock: Military, LASG, give truck drivers 48 hours to vacate bridge

    Apapa Gridlock: Military, LASG, give truck drivers 48 hours to vacate bridge

    Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Military and the Lagos State Government (LASG) on Wednesday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to all tanker drivers to vacate the bridge in national interest and security.

    The resolution was reached during a one day stakeholders meeting at the Naval Base in Apapa, comprising the military, Nigerian Port Authority(NPA), LASG, Nigerian Union Petroleum Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    Others who attended the stakeholders meeting were Nigerian Police, Dangote Group, Apapa Residents Association, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Apapa Government Reserved Area Resident Association, among others.

    The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Adm. Sylvanus Abbah, who was the conveyner of the meeting, appealed to the tanker drivers to leave the bridge in national interest.

    According to him, terrorists might take the advantage of the traffic situation to strike in Lagos and this has to be prevented from happening.

    “Costain is going to be the turning point of the trucks.

    “After 48 hours, no truck will park on the bridge because of national interest and I hope you will all take the decision of this meeting,” he said.

    He said that some of the trucks had been parked on the bridge for weeks, adding that the bridge might collapse which would be an additional problem.

    Abbah said a committee would also be set up which would involve the major stakeholders including NUPENG to further address the traffic situation.

    “All major stakeholders most especially the shipping lines will be in the committee and if I have my way, the Apapa Local Government Chairman would spearhead the committee,” he said.

    The NPA Traffic Manager, Mr Ogini Victor, who represented the Port Manager, Mrs Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, said that the Apapa Gridlock had become a barber’s chair that was rotating and not moving anywhere.

    “Synergy is the keyword that can solve the problem of the gridlock.

    “We have also decided that all empty containers should go to holden bays and we will make sure our men give us report on how many trucks park at the bay daily,” he said.

    The representative of NUPENG, Comrade Adekunle Adelaja, while reacting to the directive, said that the union does not support tankers parking on the bridge.

    He enjoined all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem as it was affecting everyone.

    “We need to have another meeting and call all the farm tankers. Let us see how we can be able to do the programming that trucks will just go to the depot without parking on the bridge,” he said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mr Taiwo Salau, said that there should be good synergy among security agencies to resolve the traffic situation.

    “There should be synergy among security agencies so that these areas can be cleaned up and have a check point before the long bridge,” he said. (NAN)