Stakeholders in Apapa Port environment has suggested prosecution of traffic offenders as a way to end the gridlock in the area was to prosecute those who violate traffic law.
The stakeholders including Apapa Local Government Area, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Residents’ Association of Government Reserve Areas, banks and law enforcement agencies reached an agreement at a meeting that owners of articulated vehicles found to have violated traffic rules should face the wrath of the law.
The stakeholders agreed that to ease the a one-lane policy should be allowed to check the gridlock.
The stakeholders also agreed that the law enforcement agents will monitor the road and ensure that owners of trucks parked indiscriminately are prosecuted.
The stakeholders’ meeting was organised by the Chairman of Apapa council, Mr. Owolabi Adele who said that the traffic situation in Apapa was causing a serious havoc to economic activities in the area.
Adele said “our presence here marks a turning point in our collective attempt to resolve permanently and move forward in our onerous task. As it has been repeatedly re-echoed, the damage done to our economy and the suffering of our people as a result of the traffic menace cannot be over-emphasised”.
Adele who assured that the Council will embark on repair of damaged access roads in the area, however called for a training programme for tanker drivers to check reckless driving which causes accidents and gridlock.
The NPA General Manager, Western Zone, Mr. Biodun Gbadamosi, during the meeting said the problem of gridlock was as a result of many not adhering to the original master-plan of Apapa and neglect by successive governments over the years.
Gbadamosi commended the Apapa Local Government Chairman for calling for the stakeholders meeting to seek solution, adding that with this there will be a way out.
A member of the Apapa GRA GRA Residents Association, Brigadier-General Ayo Vaughan during the meeting said barriers should be erected on Liverpool Road to check articulated vehicles in the area.
He frowned at a situation in which there were so many manner of buses and commercial motorcyclists operating in Apapa, a situation which according to him poses a security risk for residents and other operators.