The Lagos State Government has concluded plans to start implementing the restriction of trucks and long vehicles to night operations on certain routes within the next 30 days.
This decision follows the heavy traffic gridlock and fatalities caused by these articulated vehicles on roads in the state.
According to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), this disclosure was made by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, at a Stakeholders Meeting on Implementation of Trucks and Long Vehicles Restriction to Night Time Operations and Dedicated Routes in the state.
At the meeting which was organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Oladeinde said the development is part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s continuous efforts to curb consistent road crashes caused by the activities and operations of trucks and trailers on Lagos roads.
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What the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation is saying
Oladeinde in his statement said, “This is in line with the state government’s THEMES Agenda especially as it relates to Traffic Management and Transportation and the ease of doing business in the state. Restrictions of containerized trailers and trucks on our roads will now be from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am.
“Containerized trailers are not allowed to travel during the day, it has to be at night time between 9 pm and 6 am. They have to abide by this timing in accordance with the Transportation Law, 2018,” he said.
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He pointed out that the state in partnership with law enforcement agencies, the Department of Petroleum Resources and other critical stakeholders, will ensure the implementation of some of these strategies in a month’s time.
Oladeinde said the government had defined dedicated industrial and boundary routes for trucks and trailers.
He said, “There will be routes where trailers will be restricted. Trailers can no longer travel across the whole of Lagos, we will make sure that we provide the essential infrastructure. We must keep our roads safe.
“The number of trailers that fell on our roads is very alarming. It is important that we protect the people of Lagos state and it is important that we protect their property.”
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Going further Oladeinde said the state government would enforce the maximum capacity of 45,000 litres as what tankers can lift from tank farms.
He said, “We have experienced a lot of tankers carrying 90, 000 liters and had to break down on the road. Any tanker that carries more than 45, 000 liters will be confiscated. We will also ensure sanctions on defaulters.’’
On his own part, a Director in the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Abdul-Hafiz Toriola, explained that trucks and trailers were banned from plying Ojota, Maryland, Palmgroove, Fadeyi, and Western Avenue to Apapa.
He said such long vehicles from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will ply Alapere-Ogudu-Gbagada-Oshodi Apapa Expressway to Apapa and follow the same route out of Lagos.
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Optics
- Although this policy is a welcome development considering the traffic gridlock these articulated vehicles cause and the dangers they pose on Lagos roads due to their activities, it is yet to be seen how the Lagos State Government can successfully implement this.
- Previous attempts to implement such policies have not been successful as the trailers and tankers have continued to operate 24 hours and to worsen the whole situation, park indiscriminately on major roads and highways.
- Despite the setting up of a Presidential Task Force on Apapa gridlock and congestion, the heavy articulated vehicles still park illegally on bridges, highways and major roads.
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