Apapa gridlock beyond traffic management, says FRSC sector commander

…seeks stakeholders’ support

The Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Olusegun Ogungbemide, has said the Apapa gridlock is a complex situation that requires continuous support of stakeholders in the transport sector to fully address.

He notes that the gridlock is beyond traffic management.

He stated this when the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, visited the command at Ojodu, Lagos, on Thursday.

He said if all transport stakeholders collaborated with government officials, the gridlock would be a thing of the past.

He said enforcement could only take care of 15 per cent of traffic challenges, adding that collaboration with stakeholders would go a long way in solving the challenges in the state.

Ogungbemide said, “The problem of Apapa is beyond traffic management; we have economic boom but no boom for individuals in terms of infrastructure.

“A family of four can have their four cars parked along the road in front of their house without a car park. Some trailer operators think of the number of trailers to purchase but not thinking of parks.

“As long as there is the volume of traffic on Apapa routes, the traffic will still persist; Unless there is multi-modern transportation.”

He commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Lagos State Government for the introduction of the Traffic Management and Enforcement Compliance Team.

He also lauded the Federal Government for building a new freight rail line directly from the ports, adding that it would help a lot in easing the Apapa gridlock.

The sector commander said the completion of the rehabilitation of the Apapa Tin-Can Island Port road would also help in solving the problem of traffic in Lagos.

Reacting to Monday and Tuesday’s gridlock in Apapa, Surulere and other parts of Lagos, Ogungbemide explained that the truck park at Lilypond was closed, which led to indiscriminate parking of trucks.

He said it was discovered recently that trucks carrying export goods were in large number on Apapa road.

He said the office had suggested that all the truck companies should form an umbrella body to enable government agencies to easily reach out to them.

Ogungbemide said over 89 BRT buses that could convey about 4,450 people got burnt as a result of the end SARS crisis making a lot of people to be stranded.

“The media has been assisting us in our operation and I must commend the collaboration with other transport agencies in Lagos State.

“Lagos State is very dynamic and I have determined to change Lagos traffic positively. Remember the tanker/gas incident at Kara, the press assisted in pushing our efforts, which made people to recognise our presence.”

Ogungbemide appreciated TCAN members for the visit and wished the Chairman of the Association, Mr Dele Aderibigbe, a quick recovery from an accident he had recently in Lagos.

Earlier, the Vice Chairman of TCAN, Benjamin Alade, assured the corps of prompt media coverage of its programmes towards a crash-free state.