For an economy in desperate need of development, losing over N10 billion daily to the Apapa-Wharf gridlock is an outrageous waste of resources. As Alhaji Aliko Dangote observed, ‘Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports handle about 80 percent of cargoes that come into Nigeria’. This shows the important role of Lagos roads to the economy.
Lagos is indeed different from other cities in Nigeria. It is for instance popularly known as the city of traffic and hustle. In fact, according to the study conducted by United Kingdom-based Dry-cleaning and Laundry Service, Zipjet, the city has been ranked the third most stressful city in the world. Sadly, the terrible traffic in Lagos has highly contributed to this awful report. As far as I am concerned, the tankers and trailers constitute the reasons traffic builds up massively along the Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway causing serious gridlock particularly on the Apapa-Wharf road. These massive trucks are supposed to have their own lane or time they move in order to avoid frustrating the lives of people.
In areas like Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, Ajegunle, Okokomaiko, Mile 2, Orile, among others, these tankers and trailers constantly park by the roadside causing heavy gridlock. Occasionally, some of the truck drivers even deliberately block the road making people spend hours before getting to their destinations. For a place you can get to within 20 to 30 minutes, you will eventually spend close to 2 hours arriving. Sometimes, one gets to spend 3 to 4 hours on the road just getting to a destination. The question is, if you spend 4 hours of 24 hours of the day on traffic getting to your destination, and another 3 hours coming back, how many hours of the day are left to make the best out of it? This is the situation of most people in Lagos and it is highly annoying.
Deliberations have been held and solutions have been proffered to solving this issue. For example, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has just held a government/private sector meeting to resolve the Apapa-Wharf road gridlock. In the past, the Federal Government also endeavored to end the nuisance of these trailers and oil tankers by instructing them to stay away from the road. Despite all these, the tankers and trailers have adamantly refused to adhere to instructions and let people have peace. In fact, currently, the situation has become so terrible and unbearable. The question is, who is to be blamed for this nuisance? Is it the Federal Government which has not ensured that their orders are obeyed or the companies that still send their tankers and trailers out to block the road and contribute to the hardship of Lagosians? Asides traffic, let’s not even talk about the death toll caused by these tankers and trailers.
I believe no problem is beyond solution especially if efforts are made towards ensuring that the problem is solved. I therefore urge the Lagos State Government to pay close attention to this maddening issue, and also I appeal to owners of these hazardous tankers and trailers to be more considerate and law abiding by controlling their vehicles. For sure, when things are done appropriately, the society experiences orderliness, peace and less suffering to the benefit of all. But why is it that some Nigerians have perpetually chosen the route of hardship and difficulty? A rescue mission on the Apapa-Wharf road is indeed urgent. Happily, the revelation by Alhaji Dangote that work would start on the road next week (week starting with November 19), is a welcome relief to Lagosians, all Nigerians and the economy in general.
Pamela Chinenye Obasi, Lagos, [email protected]
