Bring contractor back to site in Apapa, Ambode urges FG
The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has appealed to the Federal Government to direct the contractor handling the construction of the container trailer park and the Port link road in Apapa to return to site.
Ambode spoke with newsmen shortly after inspecting some traffic points in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inspection took the governor to Apapa, Ladipo and Isolo areas of the state.
He said the completion of the projects would ease the traffic gridlock in the area and other parts of the state.
“I am pleading with the Federal Government to make sure Julius Berger comes to site to ameliorate the challenges motorists are facing,” he said.
According to him, it is important to accelerate the return of the contractor to site. Ambode expressed optimism that once the link road is completed, the trailer terminal will be used.
“The terminal can take 1,000 container vehicles and that itself will improve the traffic in the state,” he said.
The governor promised that the Isolo Road would be completed in the next nine months.
“In the interim, palliative will be created so that we can have motorable roads toward the festive period,” he said.
Ambode urged motorists to be law abiding and obey the state’s traffic laws.
“We do not fine offenders just because we want to generate revenue.
“There should be law and order in the city,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Christian Olakpe, who was also on the inspection team, said a nine-point agenda had been articulated to address the traffic situation.
Olakpe, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, said that henceforth, officers must visible and accessible on all roads between 6.00a.m. and 10.00p.m.
“Officers must be on ground until everywhere is calm, cleared and people are safe to go to bed,” he said.
“In the area of enforcement, anyone who violates the law will not go free; now we are using a tripartite functional system of arrest, impound and prosecute,” Olakpe said.
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1 Comments
Stop waiting for federal government to do everything. Lagos is one state that can generate a lot of money from creating parking lots of various sizes around the state, especially in congested areas. one area that would generate a lot of money for them is in the apapa port area for the trailers and tankers. simple idea, find a land that can contain over 1000 vehicle, then either pave it, or lay concrete down. build a few building to house a few shops, restaurant and rest room with bathrooms. one building to house service shops for quick repairs. then you provide 5-10 people to provide security, collect parking fees and maintain order. the shops and services station would be paying rent to the state. each vehicle would be charge a certain rate per hour or per day, and only vehicle with established appointment to load can be at the port. any vehicle found parking on road or by the port would be immediately towed away. the parking lot area would not be used for storage of broken down vehicle. This would create revenue for the state, create a few jobs for people, and give the vehicle a safe clean place to park and wait. like I have said, we don’t have creative innovative leaders.
We will review and take appropriate action.