By Evelyn Usman
The gridlock on Apapa/Oshodi expressway in Lagos may soon be over, if assurances given by the Nigerian Navy are anything to go by.

Oshodi/Apapa road

Yesterday, the Navy disclosed plans to begin the second phase of decongesting of Lagos roads of trucks that have made the expressway impassible.

The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Okon Eyo, who made the disclosure, said the second phase would begin at the Tin-Can Port, down to Berger Yard and Mile Two.

Briefing newsmen on measures taken so far to provide a lasting solution to the traffic situation in the state, Eyo lamented that naval officers at the Western Naval Command, Apapa, also shared in the harrowing experience associated with the gridlock.

Considering the security threat trucks posed, especially on bridges, he informed that on assumption of office as the Commander NNS Beecroft two months ago, he was given a mandate by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibass Ette, to proffer a lasting solution to the menace.

According to him, “As I speak, a meeting has been held with the NPA to see how we can extend the process to Tin-Can, having succeeded at Liverpool. The Port Manager of Tin-Can Island Port was here yesterday, (Monday) to work out the repeat of what was done at Liverpool down to Malu road. We intend to send trucks that have no business at the Tin-Can port away .

“The state government is fully aware of the effort we are putting in.”
We had a town hall meeting with the Governor of Lagos state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, where he spoke of developing a holding bay that will take over 3000 trucks. When all this come on board, we will still need a form of organisation so that people don’t just drop trucks anywhere . There should be some form of control to ensure trucks enter loading bays or have a place to stake them.I believe this will ease the traffic situation along Oshodi/ Apapa expressway.”

Asked how soon that would be, Eno replied “It is not something scheduled for a long time to come. It is a linked activities. I have asked the Tin Can Port Manager to work out the modalities and engage his own rule of engagement by getting the list of containers expected at the port while security agents will ensure compliance. I cannot say emphatically when this will start because we are not responsible to prepare the list. All that matter is that we are doing our best to ensure something is done to relief traffic at the Oshodi /Apapa expressway.”

Part of the modalities that worked in phase one according to him, was the introduction of the Standard Operating Procedure to all port users. What we did was to design a call up card, every morning we ask them to bring their particulars of the truck and we endorse it and give it to them.
After the briefing, the commander led journalists inspect the phase one clearance of trucks between Dockyard road and Apapa

At Apapa, the Traffic Manager, NPA, Mr Victor Ogini, attributed the result achieved in the first phase to the existing relationship between the port the navy and other security agencies.