Buhari-Gives Truck Operators, Drivers 72Hrs To Clear Off Apapa Roads

President Muhammadu Buhari has, Wednesday, ordered the immediate removal of all trucks causing gridlock at Apapa roads in Lagos.

The president also gave all truck operators and drivers 72 hours to vacate all roads within Apapa.

The president’s directive followed an emergency meeting convened by the President and Chaired by the Vice President last month.

According to the directives from the President, it ordered “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 directive said a Presidential Taskforce, chaired by Vice President Prof. Osinbajo was established to restore law and order to the area within 2 weeks.

The statement reads thus:

“The directive mandates the immediate removal of all trucks from the bridges and roads within Apapa and all adjoining streets leading into the Apapa axis. To facilitate this important assignment, operators of trucks and tankers have also been directed to vacate the Port Access Roads within the next 72 hours.

“This directive follows an emergency meeting convened by President Buhari and chaired by Vice President Prof. Osinbajo on the 25th of April, 2019.

“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

“At the meeting were key heads and representatives of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, including the Honourable Minister of FMPWH, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; Inspector General of Police NG, Mr. Mohammed Adamu; representative of the Chief of Nigerian Navy Staff, Rear Admiral B.E.E Ibe-Enwo; Permanent Secretary,  Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Salaam Taiwo Olufemi; and the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, nigerian transports, Dr. Sokonte Davies, among others.

“Consequently, a Presidential Task force, chaired by Vice President Prof. Osinbajo was established to restore law and order to the area within 2 weeks.

“The Taskforce, which will report directly to the President, has included on its Terms of Reference 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 task force include 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); nigerian transports, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

“Other members include a special unit of the @PoliceNG led by a Commissioner of Police, representatives of the Truck Transport Union, the Lagos State Government  through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, and other relevant MDAs.

“The Nigerian Navy and all other military formations have also been mandated to withdraw from traffic management duties in and around the Apapa axis, while military and paramilitary checkpoints in front of the ports and environs are to be dismantled

“In addition, LASTMA has been authorised to move into Apapa as the lead traffic management agency, while nigerian transports is to commence the immediate use of the Lilypond Terminal and Trailer Park A as a truck transit park.The directive further mandates compliance by all security personnel and MDAs, while heads of nigerian transports, Customs, FMPWH, and all other security operatives are to ensure their officers’ adherence to the new directives.”

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