By ebosele@hotmail.com –
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to intensify enforcement activities along the Apapa and Lekki Port corridors following a recent assessment of the traffic situation and feedback from stakeholders.
The decision was reached at a strategy meeting chaired by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, at the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa.
Giwa said the assessment identified gaps in the existing enforcement process, necessitating a review and strengthening of the strategy to improve traffic management along the two major port corridors.
He disclosed that the Ministry would deploy additional traffic management personnel to the Lekki Port corridor to strengthen compliance with the E-Call-Up System by truckers and facilitate the seamless movement of articulated vehicles into and out of the ports.
The Special Adviser said the improved enforcement strategy would be implemented as scheduled, while urging officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to remain committed to the effective discharge of their duties.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa, disclosed that a shift-duty schedule would be introduced for LASTMA officers operating along the Apapa and Lekki Port corridors.
According to him, the arrangement is designed to ensure continuous presence of traffic management personnel along the corridors, while officers found to be underperforming would be redeployed immediately.
Musa also warned operators of illegal parks around the two port areas to comply with the operational guidelines of the state government.
The Ministry urged truckers and other stakeholders to voluntarily comply with the E-Call-Up System, stressing that such compliance would help minimise congestion along the port corridors.
It further warned that pleas for clemency from violators after enforcement would not be entertained.
Those in attendance at the strategy meeting included the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki; Director of Operations; LASTMA Controllers; Commanders Zebras; and other senior officers responsible for the Apapa and Lekki port corridors.
