Sanwo-Olu: Lagos wiill take over control of Apapa gridlock

Lagos State Government is set to take over the control of Apapa gridlock after the exit of the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo-led federal task team.

The state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this in Lagos on Monday during a visit to the Apapa area of the state to assess the situation in preparation for the takeover.

The governor said dedicated officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and policemen from Area B would be given the task of the traffic control.

He said, “Now, there is a process that is starting in which the state government needs to take over that task force.

“The state government is to set up a seamless operation to have a team of LASTMA, about 400 to 500, dedicated to Apapa gridlock; a team of policemen from Area B dedicated to the same gridlock.

“We are trying to bring about comprehensive metrics where all the stakeholders in Apapa understand and appreciate the role that everybody needs to play; and let everybody identify and solve it.”

The governor also stated, “There have been accusations around cabal collecting money from operators and accusations around being hijacked by some people and there have also been counter-accusations.

“As a government, we don’t own the port, but we have a responsibility to our citizens. It is part of ensuring that we improve the ease of doing process; if businesses are expensive to run, they will pass the cost to the customers.

“It is a process and we will not say that we have all the solutions but we have seen the process. Again, we have seen that we can improve this process and we have identified the stakeholders.”