By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State government has said it would take over the management of traffic in the Apapa Area of the state from the Presidential Task Force Team, which has failed to find a solution to the lingering problem.
This was attributed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said during a fact-finding visit to Apapa, on Monday, according to his media aide, Mr Gboyega Akosile.
The Governor, who was on his fourth visit since he resumed office, noted that, “Our plan is to bring about a cohesive system where all stakeholders would understand their roles and resolve challenges being encountered. Since last year, the Presidential Taskforce has been working on this issue.
“Now, there is a process that is starting in which the state government is taking over the task force.”
While giving details about the planned takeover, the Lagos Governor explained that, “We will have a team of policemen and LASTMA dedicated to Apapa Ports for enforcement of task force’s mandates.”
Mr Sanwo-Olu noted that he would be meeting with the stakeholders including the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), shipping companies’ owners and freight forwarders to address complaints about wastage of time in handing over of operation from one NPA team to another.
He also noted that all allegations and other issues observed in the handling of container operations at the ports would be reported to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
“Lagos State Government is not the owner of the ports whose operations are causing pain to residents, but we owe a duty to our citizens whose lives and businesses have been badly impacted because of the gridlocks created in this part of the state.
“I believe this trip would give us another opportunity where all of us, as stakeholders, will be able to identify impediments and resolve the issues once and for all,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari had inaugurated a Presidential Taskforce headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Mr Kayode Opeifa as Vice Chairman to restore sanity on the Apapa axis, following the total collapse of law and order which led to indiscriminate parking of heavy articulated vehicles like trucks, tankers, and containerized heavy-duty vehicles on roads leading to Apapa and its environs.
The task force started its work on May 24, 2019, and concluded its work in November and following the restoration of some level of normalcy on the axis with the disappearance of trucks and tankers on the bridges and roads, the federal government announced the withdrawal of the Presidential Taskforce but this saw the return of the previous menace.
Modupe Gbadeyanka