The Lagos State Government enforcement team, led by the Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, in early hours operation on Tuesday, impounded over 75 illegally parked trucks along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, inward port access road in an apparent measure to restore sanity in the area.
Recall that Vanguard Media had recently reported the resurgence of gridlock along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, which left motorists and other road users stranded for several hours as a result of indiscriminate parking by tanker drivers.
Motorists spent several hours in traffic from Second Rainbow down to Berger Yard, inward Coconut, ports axis.
The development was in apparent defiance to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vacation order against indiscriminate parking by tanker, and articulated vehicle drivers along highways and bridges in the state.
Tanker and articulated vehicle drivers had practically shut down Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, causing untold pains to motorists and residents.
Between Second Rainbow and Mile- 2, there was tight gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, contrary to the governor’s directive.
The Special Joint Traffic Team, which was recently established to manage the traffic on the directive of Governor Sanwo-Olu, as well as LASTMA officials, were not on ground to manage the situation, apparently overwhelmed.
However, the Special Adviser to the Governor, on Transportation, Mr.Sola Giwa, LASTMA, General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, and Director Operations, LASTMA, Mr. Peter Gbejemede, attributed the gridlock to road construction and oil depots operating in the area.
Meanwhile, the latest operation which was led by LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, Director Operations, Mr. Peter Gbejemede, and Deputy Director Public Affairs, Mr. Taofeek Adebayo, officials of Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, along with armed security personnel, lasted for several hours.
Bakare-Oki, while commenting on the exercise, said it would be sustained to restore sanity in the area, “The operation and monitoring of the axis will be continuous and strictly enforced.
“We will continue to ensure free flow of traffic by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown on these recalcitrant truck drivers,” he stated.
Oki-Bakare, added that the exercise was based on the directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa.
The General Manager, however, disclosed that owners /drivers of the impounded contravened vehicles would be prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
Also, LASTMA had earlier warned mass transit bus drivers/owners against contravening traffic laws.
Bakare-Oki stated that the agency would not compromise any form of illegality by bus or private car drivers parking indiscriminately on roadside, Kerbs, Walkways, setbacks, thereby obstructing the free movement of vehicles including other road users.
“I want to state categorically that you should ensure that your members are trained and re-trained so as not to contravene traffic regulations.
“The newly introduced Traffic Management Solutions (TMS) cameras would bring sanity, transparency, orderliness, civility and voluntary compliance on traffic management and control on our roads across Lagos.”
The contravened vehicles were impounded in areas such as: Creek Road, First/ Second Gate, Coconut, West Minister, Berger Yard, down to Mile- 2.
Also, Gbejemede said, the joint operation was to ensure seamless traffic flow for motorists and residents.
The team had earlier carried out a similar operation where over 60 illegally parked trucks were impounded on the top bridges by Lilly Pond, inward Apapa Port, and the Sifax axis of Ijora-Olopa.
Lagos holds stakeholders’ parley on road decongestion
Meanwhile, Office of the Special Adviser on Transportation, in collaboration with LASTMA, and Lagos State Safety Commission, has concluded plans to hold a special stakeholders parley on transportation safety around event centres, clubs and places of gathering in the state.
Giwa, on Tuesday, explained that the event scheduled to hold on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at Ikeja, saying traffic management and control has become a major concern for the government as a result of loss of man hours due to road congestion created during events in the state.
“There is a pressing need to address the challenges surrounding traffic management around event centres, clubs and places of gathering within the state.
“We aim to collaboratively formulate measures that will ensure smooth and efficient management of traffic, while also minimizing inconveniences for road users.
“Agenda at the parley includes; Presentation of existing challenges in traffic management around event centres and places of gathering, Discussions on the proposed rules and guidelines for engaging LASTMA prior to event and training programmes for designated staff of event centres on effective traffic management, among others,” he said.
