Apapa Gridlock – Police, Military Personnel Still Demand Bribe From Us

Despite the visit by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the Apapa axis at the weekend, truck drivers have accused policemen and naval personnel attached to control traffic in the area of allegedly collecting bribes from them.

The drivers have continued to park indiscriminately on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

Osinbajo and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had led other officials on an inspection tour of Apapa ports and environs, expressing the determination of the Federal Government to restore sanity and clear the chaotic traffic situation in the area.

Vice Chairman of the Task Team, Mr Kayode Opeifa had, last week, promised that there would be the restoration of law and order to Apapa environs by Wednesday this week.

Meanwhile, truck operators along the Oshodi Apapa Expressway, particularly, from Rainbow to Berger Yard area, have accused policemen, deployed to maintain law and order, of demanding and collecting bribe from them before allowing them access to Tin-Can Island port.

One of the drivers, who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, lamented, “The police are still collecting money from us before we access the ports. They demand between N30, 000 and N40, 000 before they clear the road for you to pass. For those who cannot pay, they are left to park on the road for days and any attempt by recalcitrant drivers are met with stiff punishment as they will be beaten by the police.

“That is why you see that they have converted the main carriage-way from Fatgbems filling station towards Trinity into parks for trucks, thereby, leaving only a lane on the service lane for other motorists.”