Read the press statement below...
Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday carried out on-the-spot
assessment of traffic situation as well as the condition of road
networks in Apapa and other major axis of the State.
The Governor, who visited major axis in Apapa such as Creek Road,
Liverpool Road, BUA Corridor, expressed dissatisfaction with the state
of affairs where containerized trucks have completely taken over the
roads.
At the Creek Road housing Thisday
Newspapers, the Governor made a stop-over at the Liverpool under bridge where
he inspected the on-going construction of bridge which is designed to
accommodate about 1,000 containerized trucks at once upon completion.
Governor Ambode also inspected the
on-going construction works in Isolo Road and Adeoyo Street in Ladipo, where he
was briefed by the contractor on site about the level of work done so far.
The Governor, along with his team,
also made a stop-over at the Vanguard Avenue in Apapa.
He also took time to inspect the
situation of things at the popular Ladipo Auto Spare Parts market, as well as
the Ladipo Carnal, beside Guardian Newspapers, where he expressed displeasure
with the illegal activities being perpetrated by traders, and warned that the
situation was no longer tenable to the Government.
The Governor thereafter inspected
facilities at the headquarters of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority
(LASTMA) in Oshodi.
Speaking to journalists shortly
after the tour, the Governor urged the Federal Government to accelerate work on
the Apapa Container Terminal Bridge, which he said on completion, will go a
long way to ease traffic in the axis.
“We are pleading with the Federal
Government to make sure that Julius Berger returns to site and alleviate the
challenges that motorists are facing. But so far so good, we have seen some
parts of Apapa that is now motorable. We believe strongly that once the Bridge
is completed, the Container Terminal will be put to use. The Container Terminal
can take like 1000 containers vehicles and that in itself will improve on the
traffic gridlock in Lagos”.
On the ongoing reconstruction of the
Isolo-Daleko Road, Governor Ambode assured that work on the road will be
completed in another nine months, urging the contractor to create palliatives
that would ensure that the road is motorable during the festive period.
He said the state government will
not hesitate to fix any road in the state regardless of its status, adding that
it would do so if a structure that would ensure that the Federal Government
reimburses the state is in place.
“Yes, it’s true that the Federal
Government is owning Lagos N51billion, but also the Federal Government is saying
that some conditions must be met and some part of the money is actually under
contention, but the part that is free from encumbrances, which is almost about
N30billion, if the Federal Government gives that to us, I will be able to do
more roads”.
“But the most important part of
these Federal roads is the Muritala Mohammed Airport Road to Oshodi. On our own
part, we believe we would meet all the conditions and where the Federal
Government does not do it early next year, we would do it”.
Speaking on the situation at the
Ladipo Canal, he flayed the environmental nuisance that the traders within the
area have constituted, warning that the state government will no longer condone
their activities.
Governor Ambode also called on
motorists to comply with the traffic law, saying that the state government does
not take joy in generating revenue from traffic offenders, but that the
government would not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law where
necessary.
“The enforcement should be for those
who are actually traffic offenders, but we want to take it first that the
people I govern are law abiding citizens and that's the approach we want to
use.”
“It’s only when you disobey that we
would want to treat you as an offender. I need to appeal to everyone that Lagos
is for all of us all, we want to make sure that Lagos works for all of us,
including me and every other Lagosian and that's the purpose of this
inspection,” the Governor said.
Also speaking to journalists at the
end of the inspection tour, the Chief Executive Officer of LASTMA, Rtd.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Chris Olakpe articulated a
nine-point agenda which he tagged operation keep moving.
Olakpe assured that the agency would
work in collaboration with Nigeria Police, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs),
and other stakeholders to ensure free flow of traffic.
He, however, urged Lagosians to
ensure sanity on the road, just as he called for caution on the part of drivers
especially during the forthcoming end of the year festivities.
“I have told my men to always be on
ground. I also instructed them to ensure everywhere is clear at all times. The
message is clear that anybody that contravenes traffic laws should be arrested
and fined just as the governor directs that we should be civil in our
approach.”
“You would always see my men on the
road everyday from 6am-10pm, with each of them stationed at strategic points in
the metropolis. Because of that decision that each LASTMA should be
on the road, I’ve set each marshal to a special monitoring unit,” Olakpe
explained.
