By Oghene Omonisa
Following the expiration, yesterday, of the 48-hour ultimatum passed by the Lagos State Government to tanker drivers who block the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, to relocate to safe parking lots pending the availability of petroleum products, the tankers almost disappeared from the road by midday yesterday.

SURPRISE: Free flow of traffic as tankers vacate Apapa/ Oshodi Expressway yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, had given the ultimatum while reading the communiqué which was arrived at after a meeting between the Lagos State Government, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD), National Association of Road Transport owners (NARTO) and other stakeholders.

The stakeholders’ meeting agreed to use persuasive enforcement to free roads and bridges currently occupied by petrol tankers and other trucks in an anticipated relief to the people.

Opeifa said the meeting had agreed that 48 hours should be given to tanker drivers queuing between 200 and 300 meters to the fuel depots to vacate, pending availability of the commodity.

The Commissioner had informed that the enforcement team would include: the State Government, the Police, Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), officials among others.

Eyewitnesses said a team, yesterday, went round the flashpoints in Apapa and its environs enforcing the order.

Could this be the end to Apapa gridlock?

The Lagos State Government had in the past given similar orders to the tanker drivers who promptly heeded the directive but returned to the road shortly after.