Lagos state governor; Babatunde Fashola has shifted the blame for the debilitating traffic at Apapa to Federal Government agencies at the ports, saying lack of coordination among the agencies is largely responsible for the problem.
Fashola spoke last Sunday when he paid another assessment visit to Apapa; he particularly blamed respective federal agencies for subjecting Apapa people to untold hardship.
He urged the Federal Government to take responsibility for its facilities within Apapa; especially the ports and expressway.
Lagos state governor; Babatunde Fashola has shifted the blame for the debilitating traffic at Apapa to Federal Government agencies at the ports, saying lack of coordination among the agencies is largely responsible for the problem.
Fashola spoke last Sunday when he paid another assessment visit to Apapa; he particularly blamed respective federal agencies for subjecting Apapa people to untold hardship.
He urged the Federal Government to take responsibility for its facilities within Apapa; especially the ports and expressway.
“This is clearly a multi-agency problem. Probably, many agencies of the Federal Government are not talking to one another or not coordinating. As a result, people in Lagos, particularly in Apapa, are at the receiving end”, he acknowledged.
Empatising, he admitted that “it has been very uncomfortable experiences in their various offices and homes. As you can see, it has become difficult to remove refuse. I do not know why a country can treat its commercial capital like this. I do not know what kind of leadership continues to allow this kind of eyesore in Apapa and its environs.
“But clearly, we have heard from those who know the business that if NNPC, for example, pumps to Ibadan and oil depots, this place will decongest. So, why are they not doing it?
That is one issue. If the federal ministry of works comes to take over and repair its roads like Creek Road, Apapa-Oshodi and TinCan Island, clearly people living and working in this area will feel some relief.
The reality is that once there is congestion in one part, it falls back and locks everybody in. The problem is not what is in Apapa. It is also about what is on TinCan Island as well.
Expreesing shock at how deeply Apapa has deteriorated, the Governor noted that: You will see even the bridge coming into Apapa now is threatened. It is just incomprehensible to me. I have never seen a country that behaves like this in its commercial capital”.
He also took a swipe at the port concession policy which brought the private terminals operators in and which increased cargo throughput, without providing for super structures that will handle the upsurge, he said: “Concessioning of the ports is more than signing papers. It requires people to make investment. We have heard some of the problems. For example, the cargo-handling equipment is absolutely in short supply. What they have are only two cargo handling equipment to about 40 trucks.
We have heard that it will be easier to do spot checking and clearance for all the trucks so that they go in batches of 20. Certainly, somebody in NPA or in the ports prefers to do it one at a time at the gate.
”There are, perhaps, some financial benefits in doing that. But why will anybody not make things efficient except there is a personal benefit? These are all federal representatives, who manage the ports; who manage distribution of fuel from the ports and who manage the Tin Can Island.
Meanwhile, one of our correspondents reported that, traffic into Apapa from the Mile 2 axis yesterday was a bit better than in the previous weeks. According to him, traffic was freer from Mile 2, the problem started from Sunrise bus stop, where petroleum tank farms are located. He reported that, unlike in the last few weeks, trucks waiting to load products took one lane on the expressway.
He confirmed that his trip from Cele Bus stop to Coconut bus stop took about 30 minutes, a great improvement over the two and half hours such distance took last week.
Meanwhile, Fashola has been lauded over efforts made to reduce the lingering traffic gridlock, even as the maritime stakeholders reiterated that the governor’s on three Sundays in a row is worthy of commendation.
Chairman , Tin Can Island Chapel, Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN), Alhaji Isiaka Olalere said that the governor in his capacity as the number one citizen of the state displayed leadership qualities for visiting Apapa.
Olalere noted that efforts made by the governor gave raise to some level orderliness when compared to three weeks back.
The RTEAN boss stated that gradually the traffic on the coconut Ibafon and Trinity axis will disappear very soon adding that Fashola’s visit was instrumental to the reduction.
Another stakeholder, who is also the vice chairman, monitoring committee of the Port Consultative Council, (PCC), Mr. Vincent Ajanonwu called on the federal government to provide a permanent solution to the menace at the port axis even as he commended the Lagos state governor for providing a temporary solution.
He said that a holding bay for the trucks out the port environment will help to fizzle out track along the routes connecting the ports.
He stated that the governor ‘s visits can only provide temporary solution pointing out that the gridlock will resurface except a holding bay is put in place
The PCC chieftain noted that apart from the bad roads the problem of the gridlock is also caused by human element
Similarly, a port activist, Pius David said that it is the federal government’s duty to fix the roads even as he lauded the governor for his visit.
David pointed that " Fashola has done what he is supposed to do, even though he came at a time when it was tough, though we have expected him before now to come as the governor of the state because it is happening in his state"
"Even though he came late, it is indeed laudable , it is a welcome development and I commend him for coming to see what Lagosians are faced with in this part of the state"
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