Traffic gridlock, Apapa council seeks partnership with NIMASA

Traffic gridlock, Apapa council seeks partnership with NIMASA

By Udeme Clement

The Apapa Local Government Chairman, Adele Owolabi is seeking partnership with Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to find lasting solution to Apapa roads gridlock, in a bid to restore sanity to Apapa community.

The Council Chairman, made this known during a courtesy visit to NIMASA, lamented the danger the situation poses to the citizenry of  Apapa community and the economy at large.

According to him,  “Urgent  action is required to fix the roads.   This can only be achieved through collaboration among all stakeholders within Apapa buisness community. The traffic gridlock also poses security and environmental challenges, which require concerted efforts, in order to forestall break down of law and order.”

He added, “Before now, Apapa was known as the beehive of economic activities and one of the highest revenue generating councils in Lagos.   Apapa used to be a place where people engaged in all forms of recreational activities. Today, reverse is  the case, as  many industries have relocated from the area, thereby crippling economic activities and in turn low revenue generation”.

The Council boss appealed to NIMASA’s  management to partner with them,  in order to restore sanity to the area.  He explained that various committees have been set up, to look at immediate solution to the challenges identified,  that the Agency will be duly informed of the outcome, so that NIMASA can assist.

Showing concern about the spate of criminality in Apapa axis, which mostly involves the youths, he appealed  to NIMASA for assistance in the area of capacity building, so as to engage them in meaningful trades.

In his response, the Director General of NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside averred that services to the community will bring development to the populace, hence the need for continuous partnership with their host community.

The DG who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Bashir Jamoh noted that the traffic situation in Apapa is  of concern to all parties, because of the security threat it poses.

His words: “The solution to  Apapa gridlock is above the local government and NIMASA.  It is a national issue, which needs urgent attention of the Federal Government and all stakeholders in the sector. At present, we can be talking about short-term solution, but on the long run, we must have medium and long-term plans on how to tackle the situation. We assure the council  of our continuous support  to any development that will help resolve the traffic challenge in Apapa. However , government is doing its best to tackle the situation”.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s  government is not resting on its oars to fulfill its election mandate of transforming the economy and making life more comfortable for Nigerians.”