Traffic Gridlock: LASG orders trailers, tankers to stay away from Lagos

Piqued by the massive traffic gridlock that spilled over from the ports located in Apapa area of the state, occasionally locking down of the state, Lagos State government on Friday ordered trailers, trucks and oil tankers to stay away from Lagos till the problem in the ports is rectified.

Drivers of those trailers and trucks were advised to park them at Ogere Trailer park and such other parks outside the state pending the resolution of the crisis.

Over 2,000 trailers, trucks and oil tankers are reportedly lined up on the ever busy Ikorodu Road all through to Apapa as they struggled to get into the port and tank farms to convey commodities to their various destinations.

The situation has caused many motorists to groan on the same spot for hours on Friday, trying to get to their destinations.

Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, who spoke at a press conference convened by the Ministries of Information and Strategy and Transport to urgently tackle the situation, said the gridlock being experienced was occasioned by breakdown of activities and operations at the port.

Elegushi, who said that the attention of the state government had been drawn, described the situation in Apapa and its environs as unfortunate because of the harrowing experience people were going through.

“The state government’s attention has been drawn to the recent traffic situation in Apapa and its environs which has unfortunately impacted negatively on the commercial activities of the citizenry.

“Investigations have revealed that the traffic lockdown is a direct result of the challenges being faced by the operators of the ports’ which has made it impossible for them to load the articulated vehicles/trailers that have come from the hinterland to evacuate imported items from the ports.

“The situation was further aggravated by the current rehabilitation of some major roads and other minor roads which again necessitated the closure of these roads in Apapa.

“The situation, as it were, led to the traffic bottleneck and backflow of the articulated vehicles to as far as Ojuelegba on the Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere,” he said.

Elegushi appealed to the port operators to do all that was needed to get the challenge resolved as soon as practicable to eliminate the current hardship being faced by the people and the dangers it posed to the socio-economic activities and health of Lagosians.

The commissioner added that, “As we intensify our consultations with the Nigeria Ports Authority and the relevant transport unions like Tank Farm Owners Association, AMARTO, oil marketers in the sector, we appeal to the owners and operators of the articulated vehicles/trailers, petroleum tankers to please stay away from Lagos for now pending the resolution of the challenge which we believe will soon be over. They are advised to park at Ogere Trailer park and such other parks outside the State.”

He said relevant government agencies like LASTMA and LASEMA and the RRS would be stationed at key gateways into Lagos State to ensure compliance.

Also speaking the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, emphasized that the breakdown of operation at the port was responsible for the massive gridlock in the state.

“The breakdown of operation at the port in Lagos is the cause of the gridlock. Over 2,000 trucks are struggling to gain access into the port. As responsive government, we can’t allow these pains to continue. We are taking steps to mitigate the problem to ensure that Lagosians are not subjected to these avoidable pains,” he said.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu, said the situation in Apapa.had been very tough, pointing out that an explosion in the area might be grave as there was no access to the area.

He said the agency had sent drones to monitor the situation in Apapa for proper government intervention, while urging Lagosians to report any untoward situation to the agency through the dedicated 767 emergency line.

“Government is on top of the situation. We will enforce the law to ensure that Lagos is not shutdown,” he said, adding that “this is a challenging time, we have declared emergency around that area,” he said.

Commenting on the development, the President, Association of Maritime Truck Owners, (AMARTO), Chief Remi Ogugbemi, said the situation in Apapa could be likened a time bomb that could explode anytime, pointing out that no amount was too much to ensure safety of lives and properties.

“The situation is a time bomb that can explode. Federal Government should collaborate with the state so that the problem will be over; we don’t want to wait until it happens before they start sending relief materials. We are ready to give necessary support until sanity returns to Apapa,” he said.