BI AKONI
The traumatic traffic gridlock in Apapa axis of Lagos, the leadership of Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, said yesterday, that it had commenced move to check movement of tankers, especially from northern parts into Lagos.

Comrade Tayo Aboyeji, South West, Public Relations Officer of PTD, disclosed this while reacting to the chaotic traffic situation on Apapa axis, following the launch of special taskforce set up to manage the situation as a result of the activities of tankers and other articulated vehicles.
It will be recalled that, Lagos State Government and PTD, had set up a special taskforce to manage traffic in knotty spots along the road to allow free flow of traffic.Y OLASUNKANM
Aboyeji, explained that the union had met with the state transport ministry to fashion out ways of easing the traffic gridlock through special taskforce which had commenced work immediately.
He absolved his members of causing the gridlock on the road, but put the blame on Julius Berger, the contractor constructing the road for slowing down the job which he said had compounded the gridlock.
He also blamed the influx of tankers in the area to the large concentration of oil depots which made it mandatory for tankers from other states to head for Apapa to load the product after the initial scarcity.
On the measure taken to further check the menace of tankers in Apapa, Aboyeji, said that APTD has set machinery in place to regulate the movement and influx of tanker drivers into Lagos in the interim.
He said: “We are also worried that both vehicular and human movements have been greatly affected by the high presence of tankers as well as other articulated vehicles, but we are doing our best possible to solve the problem.”