FG extends deadline for clearing Apapa gridlock

The Federal Government has granted requests by members of the Presidential Taskforce on the Apapa traffic gridlock and other stakeholders to extend the deadline given for resolving traffic congestion in the area.

During the meeting of the Presidential Taskforce with stakeholders held at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo approved a two-week extension of the deadline.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the taskforce which commenced its assignment on May 24, had up to June 7 to complete the assignment.

He said that the panel is now expected to present a formal report at the end of its extended mandate on June 24.

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“The presidential directive was issued for the clearing up of the Apapa gridlock and the restoration of law and order to Apapa and its environs within 2 weeks.

“The directive followed an emergency meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on the 25th of April, 2019.

“While the Vice President chairs the task force, its daily operations are supervised by an Executive Vice Chairman, Comrade Kayode Opeifa.”

Membership of the team is drawn from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Shippers Council.

Other members include a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force led by a Commissioner of Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), representatives of the Truck Transport Union, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and other relevant MDAs.

According to the Vice President at the meeting on Tuesday “we will extend the tenure of the taskforce by two weeks and we must all work together to be able to resolve all the issues raised here today.”

Speaking on steps to be taken to find lasting solutions to the problem, Prof. Osinbajo added that “it will take both medium and long term solutions to ultimately enable us present to the users an efficient port environment for the economy and businesses to thrive.”

He warned that “we will not allow any interests to undermine our nation’s economy”.

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