Fresh indications have emerged that the Lagos State Government will now begin clamping down on petroleum tanker drivers and food vendors around the fuel depots on Creek road in Apapa, as well as those around Ibru jetty at Coconut bus stop for offences such as dumping of refuse on the road, defecating in drainages and refusal to comply with simple traffic rules.
Chairman of Apapa Local Government; Mr. Elijah Adele stated this last week at a stakeholders’ meeting in Apapa. He said that Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state has given the go-ahead to arrest and prosecute truck drivers who fail to comply with simple rules and regulations and those abusing the roads by dumping waste and defecating openly in the drainages.
Also speaking with Shipping Position Daily last week, Chairman, Committee of Directors at Ibru Complex, Mr. Sabitu Ajadi said that regulatory agencies in Lagos State such as Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have all been deployed to the area to monitor activities of tanker drivers and to monitor the drainage system.
Ajadi noted that this was to ensure that the palliative measures being applied on the road would last.
Speaking at the stakeholders meeting in Apapa at the weekend, the Apapa Local Government chairman, Elijah Adele said that starting from this week, some inner roads within Apapa would be fitted with barriers against tankers and trucks.
He said "For the past two weeks now, we have been taking refuse out of Apapa on night basis, but we have challenges with the tankers and trucks. For example, Creek road was cleared on Sunday night, but we couldn't conclude the other side, we went to Folawiyo to help talk to the tanker drivers which they did, but some of the drivers are saying that once they leave the road, to go and queue up would be a problem"
"The respective agencies have been told that any driver that they talk to and he refuses to adhere to simple instruction, they have been mandated to make arrests and be taken to court. God forbid if the issue if Lassa fever should happen as a result of them dropping their refuse on the road"
"All the stakeholders, tanker drivers, market women have been mandated to take wastes to designated areas"
"We have tried as much as possible to be diplomatic by not arresting anybody but some people just believe they are above the law"
"From this Saturday, we are starting erection of barriers on Apapa inner roads so that trucks and tankers would only have access to Creek road, Commercial road, Liverpool and Wharf roads. Once the barriers have been erected, if any company has any delivery to make we would be informed 24hours before the container comes in", he stated.
On the Coconut axis, the Chairman Committee of Directors at the Ibru jetty, Ajadi told Shipping Position Daily that continuous dumping of parts of repaired vehicles on the road and tyres in the drainage system would be seriously dealt with. He said that a committee has been formed to look into this.
"We would embark on continuous monitoring of the drainage system because no matter the repair on the roads, without the drainage it would collapse again"
"The law enforcement agents will be on ground to deal with anybody that refuses to comply with the rules and regulations. KAI, LAWMA, LASEPA would be invited, any environmental pollution caused by those putting refuse on the road, defecating in the gutter, putting parts of repaired vehicles on the road will be dealt with, we are going to form a committee to look into this", he also added.
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