By Uzoma Akobundu
Hope is rising for a free vehicular movement on the ever busy Apapa/Oshodi expressway and adjourning roads as the authorities are set to clear the mess once and for all and restore sanity there.
Lagosians operating on that axis have been having it rough as tanker drivers have taken over all the portions of the road, making things difficult for residents.
It is now customary for Lagosians who commute on that axis to spend more than 24 hours on the road either going to work or returning.
But all that may be a forgone issue as the authorities said they are ready to deal with it once and for all.
The Lagos State Police Command and other relevant security agencies will on Friday begin ‘Operation Restore Sanity’ to free Apapa of gridlock, the State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, said on Thursday.
After meeting with representatives of some relevant stakeholders in Lagos, Edgal told reporters of the planned operation, describing the Apapa gridlock as a “national disaster’’ that calls for concern.
He said: “The problem which gave rise to the sorry state of roads linking the ports is not limited to mere blocking of roads or activities of tank-farms with no holding bays for trucks.
“It will be irresponsible and wicked to allow Lagosians to continue with the hardship without coming up with a joint effort to ease the flow of traffic.
“On Monday, we will go to another level of engagement with relevant authorities so that we don’t have a repeat.”
The police chief further appealed to maritime workers to shelve their impending strike and make room for dialogue, so that Lagosians can move freely.
The general manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Wale Musa, also said he was aware of the pain which the gridlock was causing Lagosians, assuring that the problem would be resolved.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the representatives of the 9th Brigade Commander, FRSC Sector Commander, and Commandant, NSCDC, alongside Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers with jurisdictional responsibilities in the affected gridlock areas and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation Lagos State were in attendance.
Officials of NUPENG, who volunteered 50 men, members of NARTO, who volunteered 50 men and truck owners, who volunteered 50 men to join the task force for the operation, were also present.
The NSCDC, FRSC, LASTMA, LASEMA and the Nigerian Army also agreed to provide men to join the operation.
.Additional information from NAN