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Tag: Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

  • Ambode’s ex-aide robbed in traffic

    An aide to former Lagos State governor Ekene Okoro on Wednesday night fell victim of some traffic robbers on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    Okoro, who served as a press officer in the office of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Chief Press Secretary, said he was robbed around Cele Bus Stop on his way to his Ago Palace home at about 9:35pm.

    The hoodlums took away his wristwatch, handsets, and cash.

    Okoro, who described the experience as “traumatizing” said the hoodlums descended on other motorists after finishing with him.

    “Done with me, they ordered me to move. At this point, I felt they wanted to use me as a bait to raid other vehicles behind.

    Read Also: Two suspected robbers mobbed to death in Delta

    “As soon as I saw that they were distracted with their next victim, I zoomed off. The first thought was to run far away from the scene, second thought was to head back to my car and zoom off.

    “I listened to the second thought. I sneaked back to my car, approaching from the front and hoped to jump in and zoom off. Alas! they had taken my key as collateral damage,” Okoro said.

    Speaking with The Nation after retrieving his line at MTN office, Okoro said the person on the desk told him that he was the fourth person that came to retrieve his line yesterday.

    “Do you know what? All of us were robbed around that place. I hope our security agencies will focus on that area,” Okoro added.

  • Mile 2 – Tin Can road shut for repairs

    A portion of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway starting from Mile 2 to Tin Can Island Ports has been shut for repair.

    It will be reopened tomorrow, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation Dr Taiwo Salaam said on Monday.

    The closure, he said, would allow Hitech Construction Company to speed up work on the section, which is notorious for accidents.

    He advised trucks to avoid the corridor until the repair work is completed.

    In a related development Lagos State Government has introduced a newregime of prices for public procurement for contractors, consultants and service providers interested in doing business with it.

    Read Also: Lagos shuts Mile 2- Apapa road for repairs

    A statement from the Office of Head of Service said the price regime was it meant to achieve transparency.

    It said: “In a bid to ensure a transparent, competitive, inclusiveness, sustainable and value- for – money Public Procurement system that support the State Development Goals and engenders Public confidence, the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency has designed the new categorization and price schedule for Contractors/ Suppliers/ Consultants Registration in Lagos State.’’

    The statement said the objective was to encourage the participation of small and medium scale enterprises in order to create a new class of entrepreneurs.

    “The move is further aimed at boosting internally generated revenue by creating a new price schedule for contractors, consultants and service providers.

    The price schedule ranges from N250, 000 to N20 billion for registration and renewal.

  • Taskforce seizes 109 motorcycles, to destroy over 2,500

    The Lagos State Special Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation on Sunday said it seized 109 motorcycles at Second Rainbow, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway for flaunting the state Traffic Laws.

    This is just as the agency disclosed it would destroy over 2,500 motorcycles impounded since January for plying restricted routes across the state.

    These were contained in a statement released by the agency’s head of Public affairs Taofiq Adebayo on Sunday morning.

    According to Adebayo, Taskforce Chairman Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP)  at the weekend led operatives to Second Rainbow in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area (LGA) following complaints of residents on illegal activities of the motorcyclists.

    Adebayo said the raid followed series of warnings to motorcycle riders to desist from operating on restricted routes, particularly highways and bridges across the state.

    Quoting the chairman, Adebayo said criminal activities of some the motorcyclists was alarming, noting that some of them harassed passers-by at bus stops.

    “While some of them harass innocent members of the public at various bus-stops, others engage in all sorts of criminal acts by dispossessing their passengers of valuables such as phones, jewelleries, and bags. Also, motorists held in traffic both morning and night around these areas were not spared,”  Adebayo stated.

    Noting that complete clampdown on illegal activities of these operators would be sustained, he said the Taskforce was collaborating with Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Area Commanders to sustain the onslaught.

    “The chairman warned dispatched riders using power bikes (200cc above) to desist from engaging in illegal commercial activities as anyone caught violating Lagos State Traffic Laws would be prosecuted.

    “He urged various motorcyle riders associations across the state to on regular basis, educate their members on all 475 restricted routes and the life-threatening danger surrounding plying high-ways and bridges.

    “The chairman, however, confirmed that over 2500 illegal commercial motorcycles impounded by the agency in the last three months (January to March 2019) would be crushed by the government,” said Adebayo.

  • LASEMA rescues two crash victims

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Tuesday rescued two accident victims on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    They were reportedly trapped under two vehicles that collided at Cele bus stop.

    An over-speeding diesel-laden tanker rammed into a stationary trailer at the bus stop.

    LASEMA General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu told The Nation yesterday that the accident was avoidable.

    He said: “Motorists should always ensure that they drive within the approved speed limit, obey road signs and be vigilant. They should watch out for obstruction and activities of other road users, to avoid crash.

    “That accident was avoidable. It was caused by overspeeding by the driver of the articulated gas truck, which rammed into another stationary containarised truck.

    “When we received distress call, we activated our emergency response team and moved to the scene.

    “Preliminary investigation showed that the driver of the gas truck lost control while on high speed and rammed into a containerised truck parked by the roadside.

    “Nobody died, but three persons were injured. One of the victims was taken to an unknown hospital before the arrival of the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU). The other two, who were trapped, were rescued with the aid of the agency’s extrication equipment.

    “They were thereafter attended to by the agency’s paramedic and Lagos State Ambilance Service (LASAMBUS) before being moved to the Trauma Centre for further treatment. The articulated trucks were recovered to restore normalcy and free vehicular movement at the axis.

    “The police and other security agents will carry out further investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident.”

  • Fashola to court: Dismiss Falana’s suit seeking to compel FG to fix Oshodi/Apapa expressway

     

     

    The Minister of Works, Housing and Power Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to dismiss the fundamental right suit filed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) challenging the failure of the federal government to remove the gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.

    In his preliminary objection against the suit, Fashola challenged Falana’s locus standi to file the suit.

    He argued that Falana has not shown that he has suffered over and above other motorists or users of the road.

    The Minister contended failure to repair the road has not in any way restricted or breached Falana’s freedom of movement

    In a counter-affidavit deposed to by one Ayodele Otedola, a litigation clerk in the ministry, on behalf of the Minister, it was stated the gridlock on the road “is always caused by tanker drivers who normally follow the route to Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) for the purpose of loading and offloading their goods”.

    It also stated that the minister’s “effort to clear the road and remove the trailers and tankers has not been easy but that effort has been redoubled to achieve this goal”.

    Falana, in his fundamental right suit, argued the state of the road constitutes a threat to his life and violation of his fundamental right to move freely in Lagos as guaranteed by Sections 33 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Articles 5 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

    He is therefore seeking the following reliefs:

    “A declaration that the refusal or failure of the respondents to remove obstructions, repair and maintain the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway is illegal and unconstitutional as it constitutes a threat to the fundamental right to life of the applicant guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana asked the court for a declaration the failure or refusal of the respondents to make the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway safe for motorists is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the Applicant’s fundamental right to freedom of movement guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 12 ff the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He prayed the court for a declaration the parking of tankers and trailers on the overhead bridges in Lagos is illegal and unconstitutional as it constitutes a threat to the fundamental right to life of the applicant and other motorists guaranteed by Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He, in addition, asked for a declaration that the applicant is entitled to his fundamental right to economic, social and cultural development guaranteed by Article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana in addition asked for an order of the court directing the respondents to remove all obstructions, repair and maintain the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway forthwith.

    Meanwhile, the federal high court has fixed January 19, 2018 for hearing the substantive suit and the preliminary objection.

     

     

     

     

  • Lagos sets up special squad to clear trucks, tankers

    …. appeals to Maritime workers to shelve planned strike

     

    Lagos State Government has set up a joint operation involving security agencies and stakeholders in the maritime sector to clear all containerized trucks and tankers parked along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway commencing from Friday.

    The operation tagged, ‘Operation Restore Sanity On Lagos Roads,’ was set up on Thursday and the exercise will be carried out from early hours of Friday to Monday.

    In order not to compound the already had situation the government has also appealed to Maritime Union Workers, in the interest of the nation, to shelve their planned strike action and other moves they have so far embarked on which led to the gridlock, while also appealing to Lagos residents to bear with government especially in the event of diversions to ensure removal of the parked trucks and containers.

    The squad consists of 1000 policemen, 500 officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), 100 officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), 120 officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and 250 personnel of the Nigerian Military including Army, Air Force and the Navy.

    Apart from providing the equipment to be used for the operation, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) will also deploy 20 officials, while the relevant unions within the maritime sector such as Amalgamation of Container Truck Owners Association, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), National Association of Transport Operators (NATO), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), among others will provide hundreds of their members to serve as Task Force to work with security agencies.

    Addressing a press briefing after an emergency meeting on the chaos in Apapa axis as a result of the gridlock, the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal said the decision to set up the operation became imperative owing to the need to restore sanity and prevent complete breakdown of law and order.

    He said though the issues which gave rise to the sorry state of affairs on the federal roads and bridges linking the ports ranges from ports operational problems, activities of tank farms and shipping lines who don’t have holding bays in clear contravention to the law, and diversion as a result of ongoing construction, among others, the State Government nonetheless would not fold it arms and allow the sufferings of the people to continue, a development he said necessitated the operation.

    He said it was gratifying that all stakeholders unanimously agreed that the operation should commence with immediate effect, while the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other relevant agencies work to fashion out permanent solution to the issues within the Ports which gave rise to the gridlock.

    According to the CP, “Everybody is aware of the madness going on along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway that has been completely blocked by trailers and tankers. The same problem we have on our bridges in Western Avenue, Iganmu and Apapa axis.

    “However, it would be irresponsible of us to continue to watch and allow Lagosians go through these period of untold hardship without coming up with strong palliative and security measures and strong joint effort to at least ease the traffic problem and allow for free flow of traffic, while agencies that are responsible for these problems sit together like I hear they are doing currently and fashion out permanent solutions to the problems.

    Read Also: Will trucks, trailers ever leave Apapa?

    “We have held series of meetings betweenThursday and Friday and we have come up immediately with a resolve to immediately start ‘Operation Restore Sanity On Lagos Roads’. This operation which kicks off by early hours of Friday is intended to move trucks and containers from our roads, highways and bridges to designated locations.

    “Thereafter, inventory will be made. The shipping companies themselves will be called to send their representatives to take inventory of these containers and at least have records that the containers have been taken to the designated locations so that they can continue their activities from there,” Edgal said.

    He commended motorists and Lagos residents especially those staying in the Apapa axis for their patience and understanding so far, just as he assured that concerted efforts would be made to free the road between Friday and Monday, while another level of engagement would commence with the NPA, tank farm owners, shipping companies, Shippers Council and other stakeholders to forestall a repeat of the gridlock.

    Also speaking, LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olawale Musa assured residents that normalcy and order would soon be restored, saying that the men of the agency had fully been mobilized.

    “Just to tell Lagosians that as a government, we are very responsive and for a situation that is beyond our control and not our doing, we are nonetheless making all efforts to ease the problems of Lagosians.

    “We are on ground and we are going to ensure that sanity is restored on our roads. If the people are suffering, we are also suffering because for me to get to Apapa is a big problem to access the road but with all stakeholders coming together to solve these problems, we assure Lagosians that very soon we are going to restore order,” Musa said.

  • Fayose: No comment on my burnt SUV

    Fayose: No comment on my burnt SUV

    Barely 24 hours after he escaped death when his Mercedes Benz G-Class Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) caught fire along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Thursday declined comments on circumstances that led to the blaze.

    The governor also revealed that he had abandoned his office for over one year at the Governor’s Office complex saying “office of the governor is on the streets.

    He also canvassed support for his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, whom he has adopted as his candidate for the July 14, 2018 governorship election calling on the residents not to refer to him as “deputy governor” again but “our governor tomorrow.”

    All the drama took place at the Government House Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where 11 communities got cheques of N94 million to execute development projects under Ekiti State Community Development Agency (EKSCDA), a World Bank-assisted project.

    Reporters present at the forum, who saw the governor’s presence as an opportunity to speak on the Lagos fire incident for the first time, met a brickwall as he refused to comment on it.

    Fayose interjected the reporter who asked the question, when he retorted: “I don’t want to comment on that.”

    The governor reportedly escaped into another car in his convoy when the Mercedes Benz G-Class SUV mysterious erupted in flames at about 1.30 pm on Wednesday.

    The carcass of the vehicle was towed away by officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

    Fayose handed over the task of distributing the cheques to Olusola saying: “I am handing over the conduct of this ceremony to my deputy because you are already elected, you are already the governor.

    “Ekiti people don’t want a governor they won’t see, for the past one year, I have not entered that office because the office of the governor is on the streets and governor’s prestige should not be
    higher than his people.

    “I will miss all of you when I leave office next year, I want you to help me stand by Kolapo, an unwanted visitor will not be elected governor next year.

    “This continuity must be achieved, I am the first person (in the state) to be elected governor twice and I will be the first governor to successfully hand over to his chosen successor.”

    “By God’s grace, you (Olusola) will get there, you will crush whoever that stands on your way; my people, don’t call him deputy governor again, call him our governor tomorrow.”

    The Oloye of Oye-Ekiti who is also the Chairman of Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, urged Ekiti people to support Olusola saying: “the angel we know is better than the one we don’t know.”

    Another monarch who spoke at the forum, the Olojudo of Ido-Ile, Oba Aderemi Obaleye, hailed Fayose for anointing his deputy, a feat he said is uncommon in Nigerian politics where governors and their deputies are always locked in cat and mouse game.

  • Photos: Newly repaired Oshodi-Apapa highway

    Photos: Newly repaired Oshodi-Apapa highway

    The Apapa highway before rehabilitation works began
    The Apapa highway before rehabilitation works began

    Apapa Expressway before

     

    Apapa Road before repairs

     

    Newly rehabilitated Berlett Bus Stop on Apapa- Oshodi Expressway, Lagos by the Lagos State Government on Wednesday

    Newly rehabilitated Berlett Bus Stop on Apapa- Oshodi Expressway, Lagos by the Lagos State Government on Wednesday
    Newly rehabilitated Berlett Bus Stop on Apapa- Oshodi Expressway, Lagos by the Lagos State Government on Wednesday
  • Residents laud Ambode over Oshodi-Apapa highway repairs

    Residents laud Ambode over Oshodi-Apapa highway repairs

    A cross section of Lagos State residents on Wednesday lauded the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for keeping to his promise of repairing the failed portions of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, saying that the development has transformed the economic landscape of the axis.

    Governor Ambode, had about five weeks ago, made an unscheduled inspection of the road while returning from a function, where he expressed dissatisfaction at the deplorable state of some portions of the road.

    A visibly worried Governor Ambode had alighted from his convoy to inspect the bad portions of the road between Berlett and Ilasa, and Cele Bus stop inward Oshodi.

    Governor Ambode not only directed the officials of the Ministry of Works to immediately move to site, but also ordered that an immediate palliative measure be put in place to alleviate the sufferings of motorists who have been complaining about the deplorable state of the road through various means.

    The Governor had specifically stressed that he could not afford to ignore the road due to its strategic importance to the economy of the State.

    A total of 4klm was repaired on the long stretch of the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway between Berlett, Ilasa and Cele Bus stops inward Oshodi. The blocked drain which caused the damage to the road was repaired while work is currently ongoing on the service lane of the road.

    Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, a trader who deals in office equipment in the area, Mr. Akeem Abolarinwa said the repair of the road in less than five weeks was a miracle, and it only confirmed the genuine intention of Governor Ambode to transform the State.

    He said: “We are very happy with the repair of this road. This road has been in a very deplorable state for long and we have been enduring untold hardship as a result of the sad development.

    “I remember very well just about five weeks ago when Governor Ambode passed through this area and saw the deplorable state of the road. He came down from his vehicle and inspected it and promised us that work would start on it. Here we are today enjoying the good road. Our businesses have witnessed a quantum boost since the completion of the repair work and I just want to pray that God will continue to grant Governor Ambode wisdom and strength to lead the State,” Abolarinwa said.

    Another trader in the area, Alhaji Sani Wasiu, who sells home and office furniture, commended Governor Ambode for keeping his words just within three days after inspecting the road.

    He said: “This is a good development. In fact, I don’t know how to appreciate the Governor. He made a promise and fulfilled it. This road was repaired in less than five weeks and this has never happened before and it is a big surprise to every one of us in this area.

    “When the Governor said repair work would commence on the road immediately, we thought it was a joke and just after three days that he visited the road, we saw a massive mobilization of Julius Berger to the road and they commenced work immediately.

    “Everything has changed since the repair of the road. Even security has improved in this area and we now have more people coming to patronize us. I just want to give kudos to him,” Wasiu said.

    On her part, a resident of the area, Mrs Ronke Onaopepo said the quality of work done on the road within a few weeks was commendable and an eloquent confirmation of the fact that the Governor is passionate about the development of the State.

    She said: “We have had instances of containerized trucks falling off the road and causing traffic gridlock for hours due to the deplorable state of the road. But now, that is a thing of the past and our story has changed for the better, all thanks to a compassionate Governor in charge of Lagos State.”

  • Ambode orders immediate repair work on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

    Ambode orders immediate repair work on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

    LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday expressed dissatisfaction at the deplorable state of some sections of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, saying the road was too strategic to the economy of the State and therefore cannot be ignored.

    Governor Ambode, who made an unscheduled inspection tour of the road while returning from the grand opening of a 70, 000 capacity Motorbikes Assembly Plant in Mile 2, directed the State’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and other relevant government agencies, to immediately move to site and fix the bad portions of the road.

    The Governor specifically inspected the bad portions of the road between Berlett and Ilasa, and Cele Bus stops, inward Oshodi. He also ordered that an immediate palliative measure must be put in place to alleviate the sufferings of motorists who have been complaining about the deplorable state of the road.

    While addressing the crowd that trooped out to welcome him, Governor Ambode said the bad state of the road was of serious concern to him, and that an immediate solution was coming soon.

    He said: “The state of this road is just not acceptable. We are going to do something about this place immediately. The Oshodi-Apapa Expressway is too strategic to be left like this.

    “I have directed officials of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and other relevant agencies to move to site immediately and see what they can do and also create palliatives in the interim to alleviate the plight of motorists.

    “I want to assure the people that I share in the difficulties they are going through using this road and we cannot afford to neglect this road,” he said.