Fresh indications have emerged that truck drivers who were directed by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah to vacate Apapa bridges have now overtaken the streets of Ajegunle in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local government area of Lagos.
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily revealed that residents of areas like Wema, Achakpo, Otto Wharf, Saint Mary, Awodi Ora are now facing hard times as a result of diversion of the trucks.
Speaking with our correspondent yesterday one of the truckers; Mr Godwin Onuba lamented that since the directive was passed by the Navy last week, a lot of trucks have been looking for alternative places to park their trucks.
According to him, ‘’we have chosen other routes and even the streets of Ajegunle, trying to find a connecting point to the bridge and connect Tin Can port"
"Some resident of Ajegunle are now profiting from the traffic situation along wharf road and Tin Can port. Some of the area boys now collect N100, some collect N200. Some street baales (chiefs) collect N1000 to N5000 to allow trucks to park and even sleep overnight".
Some of the truck drivers who had parked on the bridges around Apapa area of Lagos are now being forced to make U-turn after the Nigerian Navy commenced enforcement of the quit order on Monday.
The military and the Lagos state government had recently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to truck drivers to vacate all bridges in the state, citing security and safety concerns.
Although some of the drivers immediately adhered to the directive and relocated to other roads and inner streets, others dismissed the directive, claiming they had nowhere to go.
Among those who refused to obey the directive were tanker and articulated truck drivers on Wharf Road, Marine Beach and Mile Two Bridge, who claimed they were on queue to enter the port.
But with the commencement of enforcement order, the navy asked the drivers to return to their parks.
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