As part of measures to check the incessant traffic jam in Apapa area of Lagos state, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says the Federal Government of Nigeria has concluded arrangements to deploy 200 security officers in Tin-Can Port to clear the gridlock.
According to the media assistant to the minister, Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni, the Minister who disclosed this during a meeting with Maritime Stakeholders and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Lagos, said the security personnel are expected to ensure that no vehicle parks along the roads.
Recall that the union earlier threatened to go on strike if the government fails to address the gridlock on the route.
Amechi inaugurated a steering committee headed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Magdalene Ajani, to seat monthly until the challenges were overcome. Other members of the committee would be from the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council, MWUN, Road Safety and the Lagos State Government.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi
The minister directed the committee to write to the Inspector-General of Police for more officers for the assignment.
“The issue of traffic on these routes is because in Nigeria we don’t discipline people, people do whatever they like even when it’s wrong because there is no consequence for our actions, and we need security officers to enforce compliance on truck blocking the road.” The minister said.
He restated the need to engage shippers and traders especially those around Warri area to see how they can make use of the Warri port to decongest the Lagos port. “We can get security to follow the cargoes to that area so that traders from Aba, and Onitsha who are ready to use that port can go there.” He said.
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