NSE boss lauds stakeholders on Apapa gridlock

The Apapa Branch Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Taiwo Olalekan, on Sunday, commended the efforts of some stakeholders to end the traffic gridlock in Apapa.

Olalekan said that the cooperation of the various stakeholders has ended the congestion around the ports, the access roads and all major roads in and out of Apapa.

He said that the collaboration between the NSE, state and local governments, tank farm owners, alongside other stakeholders, had returned sanity to the roads.

The NSE branch chairman lamented that improper planning was responsible for the previous gridlock on Apapa roads, adding that trucks parking on the highway and bridges also caused the rapid dilapidation of the roads.

“I am commending them because they heeded our advice, and that has solved the problem to some extent, but they can do better,” he said.

Olalekan stressed the need for some training for drivers and owners of articulated vehicles, to totally eliminate the problem of traffic congestion in and around Apapa.

“Some of the drivers are semi-literate and feel they can use the size of their trucks to harass and intimidate other road users,” he said.

Olalekan disclosed that discussions were ongoing and that the NSE was ready to partner with the truck owners, the Federal Road Safety Corps and other relevant agencies, to make the training a reality.

He said that the NSE was also taking measures against problems caused by years of abuse, due to indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles on roads and bridges, adding that the society was planning an assessment of the bridges and roads, to ensure their safety.

The chairman disclosed that an infrastructure appraisal to stem the tide of infrastructure collapse in the country would begin soon.

“The programme will kick off at the national level and will avail the Apapa branch of the NSE the opportunity to carry out stability tests on all the bridges and roads in Lagos.

“As a responsible society, we are ready to seek new ways with the government to stem building, roads and infrastructure collapse in Lagos, as well as other parts of the country,” he added.