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Saboteurs Responsible for Apapa Gridlock—Opeifa
By Adedapo Adesanya
There are strong indications that the gridlock being experienced in the Apapa axis of Lagos State will not see any improvement this year.
This is because the Presidential Task Team (PTT) on the Restoration of Law and Order has faulted stakeholders for sabotaging its efforts.
The Vice-Chairman of PTT, Mr Kayode Opeifa, declared recently that his team has no control over the delay in transit ranging from three to six weeks for trucks to reach the ports from Mile-2, a distance of about 10 kilometres.
Mr Opeifa, during a media tour of the Apapa port environment, said the inefficiency and lack of proper coordination among stakeholders were the major issues affecting port and traffic in Apapa and its environ.
“There is no problem on this axis of Apapa, what we have are issues. Some of the issues are that the construction is ongoing but a lot of transporters don’t have the information which their agencies, authorities owe them. They need to inform their clients and find a way to inform the public.
‘‘This is because a lot of people are taking advantage of the happenings to extort their principals, drivers exploiting the managers, managers exploiting the shippers, shippers exploiting me and you.
“So, there is a need for information for the public to understand what’s going on here. Then the stakeholders should take ownership of the place.
“Terminal operators should be interested in how people access their terminals and not just attending to whoever they see.
“Transporter should be interested in the welfare of the drivers.
‘‘The port management needs to be concerned with all the issues because somebody needs to tell them when the road will be closed and when they need to come, our job in PTT is to maintain the law and order by ensuring that only those who are asked to come are allowed to move on the road.
“Unfortunately, we are at the receiving ends; everyone thinks we are the one deciding. No, we are not, we only carry out order restoration based on the directives of the operation of the port. But when that operation of the port has efficiency issue, it is a problem to the entire system.
“The contractor needs to gain access to certain places to do its work, the earlier the contractor gains access to where he needs to work, the better for the operation of the port. These are the issues.
‘‘However, the ports must keep working too. We need the port managers to be more responsive in the overall scheme of things.
‘‘We believe in few months’ time the Apapa area will take better shape for movements and port activities, much more orderliness would be restored.’’
Speaking on the transit park for trucks, Mr Opeifa stated, “Regardless of restriction from the construction site, from Mile 2 to major parts along the corridor, you can see you no longer see trucks from Mile 2 to Oshodi, and once the truck moves inside here, (Berger, Coconut area), they feel more relaxed in the port corridor.
“We have no control over how many hours they will spend before getting into the port which depends on port operations. If not for the construction work going on, the movement into the port should be faster. Many of the trucks you see don’t have any business at the port and if you ask them, they don’t even know they are not supposed to be on the road.
“We were sent by the Presidency to restore law and order and we have honestly, achieved that to a large extent. What I’d needed at the ports now is the efficiency in all operations and there is a need for a proper definition of those who supposed to be at the port and not.
“Most of the issues around here comes from one or two terminals out of 15 terminals. So those who are charged with the responsibility of regulating the port should be at their best efficiency,” Mr Opeifa said.
Giving input on the construction timeline, the PTT Vice Chairman noted that the contractor has done a fantastic work so far with the target to complete work between November and December 2020.
He explained, “Our job is to work pending the introduction of electronic call-up system, earlier scheduled to commence on August 1, 2019, but a year after, we are not there yet.
“We believe by the time the road is completed and electronic call-up system commences, in December 2020, 80 per cent of restoration of order would have been achieved and we will see less of human disorderliness. Digitalization will replace operations and we have to deal with fewer issues.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Pernod Ricard, in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has launched the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign in Lagos to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and promote responsible drinking habits among road users, during the Detty December festivities.
The campaign, themed Take Responsibility for Your Safety – Don’t Drink and Drive, aims to reduce road accidents and fatalities during the festive season and beyond. According to the FRSC, drunk driving remains a leading cause of road crashes in Nigeria, with Lagos State being particularly vulnerable due to its vibrant nightlife and high vehicle population.
Speaking at the launch event, the Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Mr Michael Ehindero, emphasized the company’s commitment to promoting responsible drinking and road safety.
“At Pernod Ricard Nigeria, we believe in encouraging responsible choices and promoting a culture of safety on our roads,” he said.
Corps Commander Kehinde G. Hamzat, Sector Commander of FRSC Lagos State, who was represented by Deputy Corps Commander Edith Eloka echoed the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring road safety. “Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we must work together to prevent crashes and save lives,” he said.
The campaign includes sensitization programs for commercial drivers, road users, and the general public, as well as collaborations with government agencies, civil society, and private sector partners to amplify the message of responsible drinking and road safety.
It is part of Pernod Ricard Nigeria’s global Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 that promotes good health and well-being, and is reflected in its global purpose statement, which states: “We are committed to being a responsible and sustainable company, creating a better tomorrow for all our stakeholders.”
The event secured 1,500 pledges from participants at the Ikeja City Mall, The Event Centre, and ABC Transport Company, with goodwill messages from stakeholders, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Ministry of Transportation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
While admonishing safe road usage, Corps Road Safety Commander, Mr Godwin Uweni, Head of Operations, Ikotun Unit Command FRSC, advised motorists to prioritize road safety and adhere to FRSC guidelines.
At ABC Motor Park, there was a head-to-head trivia competition with gift items and stickers with the “Don’t Drink & Drive” message to drivers, who were also encouraged to share their experiences on social media, using the branded hashtag, Don’t Drink and Drive.
Last year, the company partnered with FRSC and other stakeholders to promote road safety through the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign, and responsible drinking practices with its Drink More Water activation.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has provided a financing facility worth about $100 million to assist Lagride expand its electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Lagos State.
The loan would also be used by the company to scale its Drive-to-Own programme and enable 3,500 Lagos drivers to transition from daily earners into long-term asset owners, business operators and mobility investors.
The partnership strengthens Lagos State’s transportation ecosystem and accelerates the shift toward a structured, technology-enabled and financially bankable mobility sector.
Over the past 10 months, Lagride has rebuilt its entire onboarding and operational system for drivers, known as Lagride Captains.
The platform introduced a performance-led Drive-to-Earn structure supported by weekly and monthly rental models. This system has generated consistent 90-day usage and repayment data across the fleet, allowing UBA and other financial institutions to assess driver performance with accuracy, confidence and transparency.
Eligibility for the programme is based on clearly defined performance thresholds, repayment discipline, safety compliance and service consistency.
Through this approach, Lagride has emerged as the most structured, data-driven and credit-ready mobility platform in Nigeria, setting a new benchmark for bankable driver financing and asset ownership.
EV Infrastructure Expansion
As part of the milestone, Lagride also unveiled an expanded electric vehicle charging facility in Alausa, Lagos, reinforcing its long-term commitment to clean, future-ready mobility.
The expanded infrastructure is designed to support the growing electric vehicle segment within Lagride’s fleet, reduce operational downtime and enable more efficient, sustainable transportation at scale. By pairing driver financing with practical EV infrastructure, Lagride is positioning itself as a mobility platform built not just for today’s Lagos, but for the next generation of urban transport.
“Lagride was created to give Lagos a modern, disciplined and technology-driven mobility system while ensuring that drivers are not left behind.
“The goal is for drivers who we call Captains to become business owners, fleet partners and mobility investors, not just drivers.
“This $100 million partnership with UBA moves thousands of captains closer to owning productive assets, managing multiple cars and building stronger financial futures. It is a major step forward in our commitment to driver prosperity and the future of smart mobility in Lagos,” the chairman of Lagride, Ms Diana Chen, said.
On his part, the chief executive of UBA, Mr Oliver Alawuba, said Lagride represents the kind of transformational, well-governed and data-backed initiative that UBA exists to support across Africa.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Nigeria Police Force has said it would begin the enforcement of the controversial tinted glass permit despite an ongoing case in the court.
In a statement on Monday night signed by its spokesman, Mr Benjhami Hundeyin, the police said the reason for the resumption of the enforcement was due to insecurity in the country.
The enforcement, the statement noted, will resume on Friday, January 2, 2026, and motorists who require the tinted glass permit have been encouraged to apply through the approved channels and ensure that their vehicles comply with legal procedures.
The police noted that there was not a time the court prevented it from going ahead with the implementation of the tinted glass permit, noting that this was for the “safety of all citizens.”
“It is important to clarify that at no point did the court restrain the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the provisions of the law regarding the use of tinted glass on vehicles.
“Nonetheless, in the spirit of responsibility, transparency, and public convenience, the Force suspended enforcement to allow motorists ample opportunity to regularise their documentation and complete the registration process without pressure,” parts of the statement today stated.
“Recent trends, however, reveal a disturbing rise in criminal activities perpetrated with the aid of vehicles fitted with unauthorised tinted glass. Some individuals and organised criminal groups have exploited this gap to conceal their identities and facilitate crimes ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping and other violent crimes.
“In view of this, the Nigeria Police Force has found it both necessary and urgent to resume full enforcement as a proactive measure to safeguard our communities.
“Consequently, enforcement of tinted glass permit will resume on January 2, 2026,” it declared.
“The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, assures the public that the renewed enforcement will be carried out with utmost professionalism, respect for the rights of citizens, and in accordance with extant laws.
“He adds that the Force remains committed to promoting public safety and upholding the rule of law while working collaboratively with all stakeholders to keep Nigeria secure,” the statement added.
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