APAPA RESIDENTS TO FG: Clear this traffic in 21 days, or else…

Incensed by the constant occurrence of traffic in the vicinity, members of the Apapa Government Reserved Area Residents Association have threatened to shut down the area completely if stationed trucks are not moved from all bridges and roads within the area to ease movement.

Reports say residents have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to clear all bridges and roads, otherwise the area will be shut down and made inaccessible.

According to Brig. Gen. Sola Ayo-Vaughan (retd), the President of the association, the endless queues of trucks and tankers blocking the entire network of roads in the area is no longer acceptable.

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Ayo-Vaughan said, “The bridges which were built to facilitate movement of vehicles have been converted into a permanent parking lot for trailers and tankers, restricting vehicular movement. Turning bridges into a parking lot is unacceptable anywhere in the world because of the inherent danger that may consequently cause calamity.

“The government has been warned of the looming danger which is inevitable if this practice continues. It is a matter of time. It is worthy to note that government officials and the Chief Executive Officers of the companies, government parastatals operating in Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports do not reside in Apapa.”

He also added that truckers within the area were also benefitting from the chaos by hiking their rates from N70, 000 within Lagos to N600, 000.

“Residents and workers in Apapa are in this mess alone and if we don’t stand up for ourselves, nothing will happen. Anything short of physical mobilisation at this point will be meaningless. The Apapa gridlock is man-made and we are pressed beyond measures to do something about it,” he noted.

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