Motorists lament as Oshodi- Apapa expressway gridlock returns

Motorists have lamented the return of gridlock along the Oshodi-Apapa expressway due to indiscriminate parking by oil tankers and container drivers on the road.

The development was in apparent defiance to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vacation order against indiscriminate parking by trucks, tankers and articulated vehicles along highways and bridges in the state.

Tanker drivers practically shut down the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, causing untold pain to motorists and residents.

The Special Joint Traffic Team, recently established to manage the traffic on the directive of Governor Sanwo-Olu, as well as men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, as of 5 pm, yesterday, were not on ground to manage the situation.

The Special Adviser to the Governor, on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, and Director Operations, LASTMA, Mr Peter Gbejemede, attributed the gridlock to road construction and oil depots operating.

According to Giwa, “We have directed relevant agencies, particularly, LASTMA, to henceforth ensure tankers give at least a lane as an access road for other users to allow for seamless flow of traffic.

“Therefore, any tanker or truck blocking and impeding the free flow of traffic would be impounded.”

Also, commenting on the cause of the latest traffic, Gbejemede, said, “The cause of traffic at Mile-2 axis is as a result of road construction by Hitech at Agofure inward Oshodi.

“As a result, the traffic has been diverted to Signal Barrack for those coming from Maza-Maza and for those coming from Festac, Fatgbems are to follow Berger Bridge.”

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However, one of the motorists, Mr Akeem Abdullah, lamented, “I was in the gridlock for several hours. I got to Second Rainbow and I spent three hours from there to Mile-2.”

Also, another motorist, Mr John Alloh, lamented, “Are these truck drivers bigger than the government? I spent over two hours from a distance that was supposed to take just five minutes from Second Rainbow to Mile-2.

“Why would they block the entire road without law enforcement officers doing their jobs? This is indiscipline and insubordination to the Governor’s directive.”

Similarly, another operator, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The turnaround trip should be about 72 hours. But it takes many days and weeks to transact business. Moreover, we also pay a lot of welfare costs in servicing vehicles and the welfare of drivers, among others.”

It also showed that the situation is worsened by tanker and truck owners that have no targeted destinations, but can occupy the roads permanently until persons that have consignments hire them for business.

Even some trucks with targeted destinations, it was gathered, prefer to stay on the roads than spaces provided for them at the ports as they intend to not only escape payment of fees but also consider it faster to get to the ports after paying tips to security agencies.

However, efforts by the Lagos state government enforcement team, led by LASTMA, have not yet yielded sustainable results.