As a sign of commitment to assisting in the realisation of the mega city dream of Lagos State, the federal government has disclosed its intentions to rid the Lagos of petroleum tankers and trucks that often park indiscriminately and obstructing free flow of traffic on major highways.
This declaration was made last week by the Minister of Works, Mohammed Sanusi Dagash when he led officials of the federal ministry of works on a visit to the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola at the government house in Marina.
According to the minister, it is the desire of the ministry of works to clear the roads in Lagos of tankers and trucks which has formed the habit of parking on the highways and has therefore been a major source of traffic congestion. He also stressed the need for them to make use of the holding bays that have been constructed for them for the
Dagash also revealed that government is ready to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the tanker drivers on making use of the truck parks constructed by the tank farms and whoever defaults in this will be dealt with.
He explained that it is necessary to clear Lagos roads of trailers and tankers, especially the roads in Apapa saying that it will facilitate free flow of traffic and also make the roads to last longer.
Shipping Position Weekly however gathered that the high parking fee that is being collected at the trailer parks is what usually discourages some of the tankers from using the facilities.
According to a marketer, Mr. Olanife Adeoye who is also a truck owner “some people have complained that they are charging too much, but I think it is better than parking the tankers on the highway because this can post great dangers to human life apart from causing a lot of traffic problems for other road users”
“Even though the law is no respecter of anybody, yet it will be better that if any tanker is found guilty, they should be tried if they have genuine reasons to be there instead of collecting money from them and extorting them, but personally I am not supporting that they should park carelessly on the road without reason” he said.
Our correspondent also learnt that though there is a laid down arrangement and loading procedures which requires that the trucks remain at the holding bays until they are called upon to come to the tank farms, yet some of them go directly to queue up at the congested Apapa end of the ever-busy Apapa- Oshodi expressway, with excuses that they have come from a long distance and have exhausted all their money.
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