Amid the recent traffic bottlenecks currently bedevilling Lagos and its environs, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority through its Head of Public Relations, Mr Mahmud Hassan, has assured Lagosians that, all is currently being put in place to ensure that the gridlocks encountered by motorists and commuters become a thing of the past.
According to Hassan, “I will like to unequivocally assure all that, we are not resting on our oars as it concerns salvaging this situation. As it stands we are working around the clock to rescue Apapa which is the root of the gridlocks encountered.
He noted that already, the Lagos State Government has reconstituted the Joint Security Task Force specifically established to tackle Apapa gridlock and other security threats within the axis brought about by the blockade of major roads in the area by tankers and containerized trucks.
The Apapa gridlock, in the past few weeks, had worsened due to breakdown of operations at the ports located in the axis.
to this end, it will be recalled that after one of the monthly Security Council meeting held at the Lagos House in Ikeja chaired by the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and attended by heads of security formations in the State, the State Government said the Task Force comprising of police, military, officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would immediately be deployed to the axis to ensure sanity and contain any potential security threat.
Having said that, Hassan explained that efforts are ongoing to ensure that this ugly trend is not only contained but permanently nipped it in the bud as well as restore Apapa to its old glory. In ensuring we achieve this traffic ease seamlessly, Hassan said Government has empowered us with brand new patrol vehicles that will help do the job effectively.
He continued: As we all know December is another period where Lagos records unprecedented traffic due to high inflow of cars particularly as it concerns people trooping in from all parts of the country for various, purchases. We are commited in, preventing and curtailing traffic that might bring about undue gridlocks on our roads and we would rise to the occasion. It is known fact that free flow of traffic aids economic growth as people are able to transact business freely as well as convey goods and services effectively without hassle. Our main agenda is to ease flow of traffic and in return enhance economic upliftment for businesses and Lagosians, that in recent times our men have been trained to bring in some level of civility in our operations. You will agree with me that there is a strong departure from the crude method LASTMA was known for in the past. Now we continue to train and retrain our personnel at the Law enforcement training Institute in Magodo majorly targeted at redirect our focus as well as reenergise them for greater efficiency.