LASG reassures residents/motorists of permanent solution to traffic gridlocks around Apapa

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

The Lagos State Government has reassured residents and motorists that it would continue to engage relevant stakeholders until traffic gridlocks being experienced around Apapa-Port axis is totally eradicated.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, disclosed this on Friday during an interactive meeting with relevant stakeholders including officials of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) on the permanent solutions to Apapa traffic gridlocks held at the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa, Ikeja.

Hon. Giwa disclosed further that despite the success recorded in managing traffic around Apapa with the introduction of ‘Eto’ system to petroleum tankers, the State Government is still working tirelessly to resolve other challenges to enable seamless journey to motorists.

The Special Adviser maintained that the government was trying to establish a process that would be seen as fair and beneficial to everyone no matter the delay.

“When the road is free, motorists will move freely without traffic and tankers turnover will be high.

“Traffic causes health, security and other social problems,” he said.

He emphasized that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was discussing the involvement of a private sector in providing parking space where tankers could temporarily park while awaiting their individual call-up for loading.

Officials at the meeting agreed and set up a committee with terms of accommodating other stakeholders into the ‘call-up’ system introduced to encourage orderly parking among tankers and to provide wholistic solutions to the entire perennial traffic problem around Apapa.

Speaking earlier at the meeting Comrade Kilanko Solomon who represented NUPENG commended the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation (Mr. Sola Giwa) for working round the clock in ensuring free flow of traffic around Apapa and other parts of the State.

He however said his organization was ready to co-operate with the Lagos State Government in providing lasting solutions to the perennial traffic around the entire Apapa-Port area.

Other stakeholders at the meeting included officials of NPA, MOMAN, PTD Lagos Zonal Command, NUPENG, STIC, Ardova Plc, Conoil and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management.