Sanity Returns To Apapa Roads As LASG, NPA Ease Traffic (Photos)

It’s a fresh breath of relief for residents and motorists plying the Apapa corridor, with the take-off of the electronic call-up system in the Lagos seaports, last weekend.

Major access roads into the Apapa corridor are now substantially free of traffic congestion. Throughout business hours on Monday, there was the free passage of vehicles in and out of the area.

Truckers are not left out in the euphoria. They gently filed into the seaports without any hindrance. The ever-busy Wharf road, leading to Apapa Port was vacated by deviant trucks that used to clog the gate.

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Sanity was observed to be gradually returning to the Apapa corridor; thanks to the innovative approach initiated by the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the Lagos State Government.

A trucker, Usman Musa, welcomed the development, saying the electronic solution had brought an end to years of agony he had faced on the route. It’s a new lease of life for truck operations around the seaports, he stated.

“If anyone had told me there would be a time when traffic at Marine Beach would flow freely as being seen today (Monday), I would contest it. The last four years were agonising for most of us working in this area. I used to spend three hours for 15 minutes journey,” Musa said.

Following the launch of the e-Call Up platform and traffic enforcement in Apapa by joint Taskforce teams raised by the Lagos Government and NPA, bottlenecks contrived by law enforcement agencies and port officials were dismantled and trucks had cleared off the routes, resulting in free movement of traffic in Apapa.

To consolidate on the progress recorded in Apapa following the launch of the e-Call Up system, the State Government’s Taskforce team, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Toyin Fayinka, relocated to the area on Monday to enforce the traffic regulations.

Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, dismantled all checkpoints mounted by the police along the Apapa corridor from Surulere into the seaports.

According to the police boss, the checkpoints were part of the factors creating traffic along the Apapa corridor. Odumosu warned that dire consequence awaits any officer who returns on the Apapa routes to create an unapproved beat.

Odumosu, however, allowed a checkpoint in front of Sifax Depot for enforcement purpose only by men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

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The Taskforce ordered the complete removal of illegal structures blocking the pathway in the trailer parks.

“The Lilypond Truck Terminal being operated by TTP is gradually getting ready. There are few impediments that are preventing full utilisation of the facility. As part of the enforcement team, the police led by the Commissioner had read the riot acts to those involved. We have given the owners of the illegal structures a notice to vacate the area by next Saturday. Should they refuse, the Taskforce will do the needle.”

Here are photos from the new Apapa roads from the port down to the streets in Marine Beach among others.

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