By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS – Lagos State Government, yesterday, said the fallout of the recent strike by the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, was the major cause of the current heavy traffic, being experienced along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, in addition to the poor state of the road at the axis.

This came as representatives of NARTO and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, blamed the perennial traffic gridlocks on lack of parking bays, indiscriminate licensing and building of tank farms along the Apapa seaport.

However, in a swift reaction to Tuesday’s publication by Vanguard, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Bello, has absolved the state government of any blame, saying it was purely Federal Government’s responsibility. Also another aide to  Governor Fashola,  Mr. Kayode Opeifa, who spoke to  newsmen, while on a visit to  some  failed portions of the road, around Apapa axis,  explained that dereliction of duty on the part of Federal Government, which led to the NARTO strike,  worsened the traffic situation.

Opeifa, said that the media assessment tour was on the directive of the state governor,  adding that it was aimed at having a clear understanding of the root causes of the problem as well as to properly inform members of the public.

Opeifa explained, “the gridlock started with the strike action by NARTO.  The problem at the Apapa seaport was as a result of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, not making adequate provision for containers that want to empty their products.

The gridlock on the Expressway...

“We had given PTD, NUPENG ultimatum, and though we know that this is not a problem they created but by  Abuja, we cannot continue to subject the people of Lagos to  this suffering. What they told us was that by Wednesday(yesterday)  tanker drivers would have left,  but as it is, the situation is getting worse and in order not to create unnecessary tension, that was why we created one lane and that one lane during rush hour is not working any more.

“So we are appealing to the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility by making adequate provision within the Lagos TinCan port to ensure that trucks and vehicle that want to load or discharge their products, do so without parking on the road.

“We are also appealing to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to  rehabilitate all the refineries so that the tankers do not have to load in Lagos and by so doing put pressure on our roads and become an additional burden on Lagos residents.

“Our efforts are not working   because we have these tanker drivers who have spent days in Lagos without any assurance that they are going to get fuel,” he added.