The Lagos State Government has vowed to ensure enforcement of its traffic laws against heavy articulated vehicles parking along Apapa port access roads in its move to bring sanity on that corridor.
This is as the state government revealed that it has impounded about 200 trucks on the Apapa axis in the last 48 hours for flouting the directive of the newly introduced electronic call-up system and indiscriminate parking on the road.
According to a report from the Punch, the Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Oluwatoyin Fayinka, said that he was still hopeful that trucks and tankers would not compromise the entire agreement reached before the introduction of the electronic call-up system.
There were reports that trucks had returned to access roads contributing to a gridlock along Tin Can port as well as the Ijora end, days after the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)’s new call-up system designed to address that purpose took off.
READ: NPA MD says e-call up system for trucks will end traffic around ports
What the Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation is saying
Fayinka, who also doubles as the chairman of the Lagos State Traffic Management Enforcement Team in his statement said, “Mr Governor promised at the last outing in Lekki that he would name and shame the people involved in the violation of traffic at Apapa. We are still hoping that they will oblige and not compromise on the entire thing.
“In case they want to renege on the agreement, that is when action will be taken. Whatever action the state government will take against errant truckers will be visible. It is not going to be something hidden.”
He also pointed out that the enforcement of traffic at Apapa port roads was a continuous effort and promised to continue to manage the entire corridor.
READ: Nigerian Ports Authority moves to recover ₦40 billion debt
He said, “The enforcement is not a one-off exercise; it is a continuous assignment. Our enforcement strategy is gradual. We have been cleaning up the other side of the axis at Area B, Ijora into the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.
“We are moving in gradually to other areas for cleanup which include Mile-2 end and environs. As we speak, in the last 48 hours, we have impounded about 200 trucks over for various offences, ranging from non-possession of electronic call-up slip and indiscriminate parking.
“The vehicles have been towed to Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Oshodi Yard and the owners will have to pay a fine before those vehicles will be released.’’
READ: Apapa gridlock: Lagos to impound trucks parked on highway
What you should know
- It can be recalled that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu while explaining how his administration in partnership with the NPA and other stakeholders in the maritime sector was able to get the heavy articulated vehicles off the road around the Apapa axis warned that the state government would resist any attempt by individuals and maritime operators to reverse the progress being recorded along the Apapa corridor.
- He had vowed to publicly name and shame prominent Nigerians behind the gridlock situation in Apapa and environs.
- The Electronic Truck call-up system, Eto, which was designed and launched by NPA for the management of truck movement and access to and from the Lagos ports and to end the gridlock in and around the ports, formally took off some days ago.