Tanker Drivers Dare Fashola Over Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Quit Order

There are indications that Petroleum Tanker Drivers under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Workers (NUPENG) may be testing the willpower of the Lagos State Governor; Babatunde Fashola over the incessant indiscriminate parking of their trucks on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.

Investigations by Shipping Position Daily at the tank farms in Apapa, Lagos yesterday revealed that many of the tankers were still seen in their large numbers on the expressway, even after a 72-hour ultimatum was issued to them by the Lagos state government to vacate the expressway.

Some of the drivers who spoke with our correspondent yesterday argued that petroleum tankers are not the major cause of the congestion witnessed on the expressway and that the Lagos government should rather focus on activities of container-laden trucks at the Tin Can island port gate.

They also pointed out that the bad traffic situation is also caused by the ongoing construction works along the expressway.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Governor had on Monday issued a 72 hours ultimatum to the leadership of NUPENG for its members to move their trucks from the expressway or forfeit them to the state government.

A senior executive of the union at Ascon Oil; Comrade Owolabi Jimoh however in a chat with our correspondent yesterday stated that the Lagos Zonal Council of NUPENG is in full support of the state government, because the union had earlier yesterday warned its members to remove their trucks from the expressway.

Owolabi however urged the government not to limit its operations and raiding to the tanker drivers alone, but that it should also focus on the container trucks which according to him, are part of the causes of the traffic menace.

Speaking in the same vein, another senior member of the NUPENG Zonal Council, Alhaji Ramoni Akiyode said that, "we have gone round each depot and rang the bell to everyone, any driver that refuses to leave the road by tonight, he is on his own".

Akiyode told our correspondent that officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) are expected to commence raiding at the depots in Apapa this morning.

The Lagos State Government has handed a 72 hours ultimatum to members of NUPENG, as well as the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) for them to streamline their trucks into setback approved by government to pave way for free flow of traffic on the Oshodi Apapa Expressway.

A visit to the Tin Can port yesterday also revealed that container –laden trucks were still lined up in their large numbers at the entrance of the Tin Can island 1st and 2nd gates.

At a meeting held by state government officials with members of the unions on Tuesday evening, the Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa said the state government would mobilize members of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to the area to clear any backlog in the next 72 hours and pave way for free flow of traffic.

He added that the tanker drivers must remain within the space allowed by the state government so as to allow for free flow of traffic, adding that the Lagos State Government is concerned about traffic congestion around the tank farm area in Apapa and the Tin Can Port with containers waiting to discharge.

He said government is making contact with tank farm owners in the area to ensure that Nigerians are not subjected to hardship

But, in his reaction, Chairman NUPENG, Lagos State, Comrade Tokunbo Korodo promised to appeal to members to ensure that members remove their trucks from the affected part of the road to pave way for free flow of traffic.

Also Speaking, Chairman, AMARTO, Lagos State, Comrade Remi Ogungbemi described the traffic situation as an eyesore and not in the best interest of Nigeria, stressing that any emergency in the area could spell doom unless the traffic situation in the area is brought under control.

He argued that his men needed a fixed place to park their trucks so as to curtail the recurring incidents of road blockage in the area.