Lagos Unveils Fresh Joint Task Force to End Apapa Gridlock

The Lagos State Government yesterday unveiled fresh Joint Security Task Force to end traffic congestion and security threat in Apapa Central Business District arising from the uncontrollable activities of tankers, trailers and trucks.

The state government also disclosed its plan to fully enforce the 2012 Lagos Road Traffic Law, thereby directing officers of the state Police Command and other security agencies in the state to enforce the law.

These were part of the decisions reached at the Security Council meeting held at the State House, Ikeja, yesterday under the chairmanship of the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The council meeting was attended by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal: Commander of Ikeja Cantonment, Brig Gen. Elias Attu; Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Murrice Ansa Eno, and Executive Secretary of the state Security Trust fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdulrazaq Balogun, among others.

Edgal, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the new task force comprising officials of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Armed Forces, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) would immediately be deployed to the axis to ensure sanity and contain any potential security threat.

Edgal said while the issues that gave rise to the gridlock were being addressed, the task force would ensure that the roads in the axis were not totally locked down, and also prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of the gridlock to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

He said: “We deliberated extensively on the Apapa gridlock. With immediate effect, the governor has approved the reconstitution of a joint task force to ensure that while the major problems that gave rise to that situation in the first instance are being tackled, we will ensure that we have a good semblance of decency on our roads.

“We will ensure that we create a corridor for smaller vehicles and ensure that there is no complete blockade to free flow of traffic. We will also have plain cloth and uniformed security agencies ensuring that there is no crime in the axis due to the traffic gridlock.”

The commissioner assured residents that every necessary arrangement had been made to ensure peaceful yuletide season, noting that the council also approved increased visibility and patrol in all parts of the state, especially in areas there are traffic gridlock as a result of construction activities.