Apapa: Alternative Seaports, Solution To Gridlock — Lagos Govt

….Says no plan to ban ‘Danfo’ in Lagos

Lagos State Government, yesterday, expressed dissatisfaction
over the current traffic congestion in Apapa and its environs,
despite the introduction of the electronic-Call-Up system, saying
there was more to be done to restore sanity to the axis.

Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, said
this during the Year 2021 Ministerial Press Briefing, as part of
activities to commemorate the second anniversary of the Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, held in Alausa, Ikeja.

Oladeinde said: “Sequel to the taking over of Apapa Traffic
Management and control from the Presidential Task Team, the state
government set up the Apapa Special Traffic Management and
Compliance Enforcement Team, headed by the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Transportation, Toyin Fayinka, to restore sanity and
socio-economic prosperity to Apapa and environs.

“We have partnered with the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, in the
introduction of an e-Call-Up system for truck access into the
ports, collaborated with NPA in the establishment of eight truck
parks (holding bays) in different locations, across the state, to
help get trailers off the road.

“We initiated the expansion of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
ABAT, Truck Park from 12 hectares to 31 hectares to increase the
capacity of the park and accommodate more trucks in the Apapa
area.

“The lasting solution to Apapa gridlock is to have other
seaports, that is why the Lagos State Government is constructing
the Lekki Deep Seaports which is expected to be ready in 18 months
with another one in Badagry as well as the development of rail and
water transportation in the state, so when these projects are
completed, it will serve as relief to Apapa gridlock
permanently.

“We have deployed about 2,000 Lagos State Traffic Management
Authority, LASTMA, personnel to manage the traffic around
Apapa.”

On the issue of those sabotaging the e-call up system, Oladeinde
warned that “The state government will not condone any fraudulent
act in the system and we are determined to deal squarely with
saboteurs as the governor has repeatedly assured on bringing back
sanity to Apapa.

“However, the situation in Apapa is a work in progress,
gradually we shall get there.”

On the closure of burnt Airport Flyover around Toyota, along
Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, which had been shut to traffic about two
months ago, the commissioner said funding has been a major factor
delaying commencement of repair works by engineers of the Federal
Ministry of Works.

No plan to ban Danfo in Lagos

Dismissing reports making the rounds of plans by the state
government to phase out the yellow commercial buses, popularly
called Danfo, the Transport commissioner said: “The Lagos State is
not phasing out yellow buses but modifying their operations to
allow for proper regulation of the sector.

“It will be unfair to say we will kick out the yellow buses
because we will only have unemployment and more problems. We plan
that the drivers will be reformed, trained and asked to form
cooperatives so they can come together and get financial incentives
and also get buses and pay in installments.”

Also speaking, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Works and
Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, while speaking on activities of
the ministry, disclosed that the administration had been able to
deliver 51 iconic projects within two years.

Speaking on the proposed multi-billion naira 4th Mainland
Bridge, Adeyoye said: “The 4th Mainland Bridge, which started years
ago, became a top priority of the Sanwo-Olu administration. The
administration, in its resolve to ensure quick delivery of the
project, had enhanced the role of Private Sector Partnership in the
delivery process.

“Last February a request for qualification was issued in respect
of the project whereby 32 firms, which expressed interest were
shortlisted. Furthermore, 10 responses to the request for
qualification were received from interested applicants.

“The bids of these 10 applicants, which have been scaled down to
six, are currently being evaluated and the names of successful
pre-qualified bidders to participate in the request for proposal
stage are expected to emerge by December 2021.”

….Says no plan to ban ‘Danfo’ in Lagos

Lagos State Government, yesterday, expressed dissatisfaction
over the current traffic congestion in Apapa and its environs,
despite the introduction of the electronic-Call-Up system, saying
there was more to be done to restore sanity to the axis.

Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, said
this during the Year 2021 Ministerial Press Briefing, as part of
activities to commemorate the second anniversary of the Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, held in Alausa, Ikeja.

Oladeinde said: “Sequel to the taking over of Apapa Traffic
Management and control from the Presidential Task Team, the state
government set up the Apapa Special Traffic Management and
Compliance Enforcement Team, headed by the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Transportation, Toyin Fayinka, to restore sanity and
socio-economic prosperity to Apapa and environs.

“We have partnered with the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, in the
introduction of an e-Call-Up system for truck access into the
ports, collaborated with NPA in the establishment of eight truck
parks (holding bays) in different locations, across the state, to
help get trailers off the road.

“We initiated the expansion of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
ABAT, Truck Park from 12 hectares to 31 hectares to increase the
capacity of the park and accommodate more trucks in the Apapa
area.

“The lasting solution to Apapa gridlock is to have other
seaports, that is why the Lagos State Government is constructing
the Lekki Deep Seaports which is expected to be ready in 18 months
with another one in Badagry as well as the development of rail and
water transportation in the state, so when these projects are
completed, it will serve as relief to Apapa gridlock
permanently.

“We have deployed about 2,000 Lagos State Traffic Management
Authority, LASTMA, personnel to manage the traffic around
Apapa.”

On the issue of those sabotaging the e-call up system, Oladeinde
warned that “The state government will not condone any fraudulent
act in the system and we are determined to deal squarely with
saboteurs as the governor has repeatedly assured on bringing back
sanity to Apapa.

“However, the situation in Apapa is a work in progress,
gradually we shall get there.”

On the closure of burnt Airport Flyover around Toyota, along
Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, which had been shut to traffic about two
months ago, the commissioner said funding has been a major factor
delaying commencement of repair works by engineers of the Federal
Ministry of Works.

No plan to ban Danfo in Lagos

Dismissing reports making the rounds of plans by the state
government to phase out the yellow commercial buses, popularly
called Danfo, the Transport commissioner said: “The Lagos State is
not phasing out yellow buses but modifying their operations to
allow for proper regulation of the sector.

“It will be unfair to say we will kick out the yellow buses
because we will only have unemployment and more problems. We plan
that the drivers will be reformed, trained and asked to form
cooperatives so they can come together and get financial incentives
and also get buses and pay in installments.”

Also speaking, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Works and
Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, while speaking on activities of
the ministry, disclosed that the administration had been able to
deliver 51 iconic projects within two years.

Speaking on the proposed multi-billion naira 4th Mainland
Bridge, Adeyoye said: “The 4th Mainland Bridge, which started years
ago, became a top priority of the Sanwo-Olu administration. The
administration, in its resolve to ensure quick delivery of the
project, had enhanced the role of Private Sector Partnership in the
delivery process.

“Last February a request for qualification was issued in respect
of the project whereby 32 firms, which expressed interest were
shortlisted. Furthermore, 10 responses to the request for
qualification were received from interested applicants.

“The bids of these 10 applicants, which have been scaled down to
six, are currently being evaluated and the names of successful
pre-qualified bidders to participate in the request for proposal
stage are expected to emerge by December 2021.”