“A Presidential directive has been issued for the immediate
clearing up of the Apapa gridlock and the restoration of law and order to Apapa
and its environs within 2 weeks,” the presidency tweeted.
The presidency said it has directed “operators of trucks
and tankers have also been directed to vacate the Port Access Roads within the
next 72 hours.”
The directive followed an emergency meeting convened by
Buhari and chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the 25th of April, 2019.
The presidency said “the meeting proffered lasting solutions
to the gridlock around the Lagos Ports, as the traffic congestion has continued
to restrict all operations and livelihood in the area.”
The taskforce will “report directly” to Buhari in the
development of an efficient and effective management plan for the entire port
area traffic, including the cargo, fuel distribution and business district
traffic; enforcing the permanent removal of all stationary trucks on the
highway, and the development of an effective manual truck call-up system,
pending the introduction of the electronic truck call-up system.
“It also includes the implementation of a workable Empty
Container Return and Export Container Truck Handling Policy, amongst others.”
Members of the taskforce, he said, included Mr. Kayode
Opeifa, former Commissioner of Transport in Lagos State, as the Executive Vice
Chairman; a representative of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment
Council (PEBEC); the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); and the Nigerian Shippers’
Council (NSC).
Other members include a special unit of the Nigeria Police
Force led by a Commissioner of Police, representatives of the Truck Transport
Union, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Traffic Management
Authority (LASTMA), and other relevant MDAs.
“In addition, LASTMA has been authorised to move into Apapa
as the lead traffic management agency, while the NPA is to commence the
immediate use of the Lilypond Terminal and Trailer Park A as a truck transit
park,” it added.
In 2018, Vice President Osinbajo ordered a 72-hour
operation to clear the gridlock in Apapa. However the gridlock problem caused
by tankers and truck persisted.
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