Some residents of Olodi Apapa, a settlement close to the seaports in Lagos, have warned tanker and drivers of container-laden trucks not to park along streets in the community saying that any of the vehicles parked overnight will be razed down completely before the next morning.
Against the backdrop of the lingering traffic gridlock along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway which leads to the two ports, the youths of the community lamented that indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles poses a serious threat to their community and the state at large.
According to them, the government agencies at ports and the tank farm owners need to strategize on how to find a permanent solution to the menace of the drivers, otherwise owners of vehicles found on the streets of Olodi Apapa down to Ajegunle will pay dearly for their actions.
Investigations carried out by Shipping Position Daily last week revealed that, some streets in the community have been taken over by articulated trucks either waiting to lift dry cargo or to load petroleum products from the tank farms.
However, our correspondent confirmed that trucks have almost taken over streets like Akpiri and Wilmer Crescent.
A dockworker who simply identified himself as Clement said that there are plans by youths resident in some part of the community to hold meetings with the tank farm owners, even as he added that the youths are not going to take it likely with the vehicle drivers or owners if they fail comply.
He said that the Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Shippers’ Council and tank farm owners should map out strategies to provide the necessary facilities for the trucks.
Clement disclosed that some of the drivers abandoned their vehicles whenever the traffic is uncontrollable, causing panic and fears among residents, even as he added that youths in the community are already gearing up for an attack on any erring truck driver.
"We are living in fear because of the rate at which tanker trucks use our roads in this community and we don't want any unforeseen circumstance that will make us to lose our properties as a result of any fire incident, therefore we are appealing to the tanker drivers that they should stop parking their vehicles along the road because if they do we might be forced to burn any of the vehicles that might have spent close to six hours in a particular street, he threatened.
Apart from the threat by the youths, commercial activities have also been affected by the presence of tankers that are parked indiscriminately on some of the streets.
A banker (name withheld) also confirmed to our correspondent that residents of the area are set for a showdown with any heavy duty truck found in the area.
According to him, the number of the trucks is on the increase and government needs to regulate their activities before it gets out of hand.
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