*As Lagosians regret random parking of fuel tankers

BY CHARLES KUMOLU & BOSE ADELAJA

THE past two days (Monday and Tuesday) have been literal hell for motorists, commuters and other road users plying the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, no thanks to the gridlock which has become prevalent on the usually traffic-busy highway.

Vanguard gathered that the traffic jam which started shortly before midday,  stretched from Berger-under-bridge bus-stop to Sanya bus-stop. Indeed, it took an alarming turn for the worse, yesterday, as every form of traffic practically came to a standstill for hours, leaving motorists trapped and frustrated while it lasted.

Vehicles trapped on both sides of Oshodi Apapa Expressway, Lagos, following illegal parking of petroleum tankers and container trucks on the highway.

It was discovered that the gridlock resulted from the indiscriminate parking of petroleum tankers on the service lane of the expressway. These tankers, believed to have come from other parts of the country, blocked the highway unchallenged, thereby impeding the free flow of traffic.

What is worrisome about the situation is that it has become a recurring decimal in the ever-busy expressway which often subjects road users to harrowing experience.

With this situation, motorists were forced to drive against the traffic from Cele bus-stop to Mile Two. Several commuters had to alight from the various vehicles they boarded and trekked to their respective destinations.

At Freedom Bus-stop, for instance, a commuter, who identified himself as Mr. Sunday Adeniji, said he had a narrow escape from death when one of the trucks veered off the service lane and hit his car while the gridlock was on a standstill at 2.00 p.m yesterday.

The Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, yesterday.

He lamented: “My car was seriously damaged but I managed to apprehend the driver of the truck who gave me a written document that he would repair my car. We are sick and tired of all these; something should be done about these tankers.”

Truck rams into luxury bus at Mile 2 Oke
Also, around 8.00 p.m., Monday, another truck rammed into a luxury bus at the Oshodi axis of Mile 2 when the driver tried to manoeuvre his way out of the traffic but no life was lost.

While several car dealers at Berger Yard Bus-stop complained of low patronage, it was boom time for some hawkers who trooped out to sell their products.

Meanwhile, the gridlock also brought bumper harvest to some commercial drivers who inflated their fares to N200 and above for a trip that would have attracted a fare of N70 or less.

Some road users who spoke with our reporters urged government to do something to stem the situation.
Roseline Akabueze said: “Everybody is aware that the road is in a bad shape and tanker drivers will pack indiscriminately on the same road. Does that mean government is not aware of the development? They should do something before it becomes worse.”