Eromosele Abiodun
In a bid to find a lasting solution to the Apapa gridlock, the Apapa Local Government Chairman, Adele Owolabi has sought partnership with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in order to restore sanity to the Apapa community.
Owolabi while on a courtesy visit to the Agency bemoaned the danger the situation poses to the citizenry of the Apapa community and indeed the Nigerian economy, noting that it requires urgent action, which can only be achieved through collaboration amongst all Stakeholders within the Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Speaking further, he stated that the traffic gridlock also poses security and environmental challenges, which require concerted efforts in order to forestall break down of law and order.
“Before now, Apapa used to be a beehive of economic activities and one of the highest revenue generating Local Government Area in Lagos and a place where people engage in all forms of recreational activities. Today, the reverse is now the case as so many industries have relocated from the area, thereby crippling economic activities and in turn low revenue generation, â€he said.
He also appealed to the NIMASA Executive Management to partner with them in order to restore sanity to the Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State, so that economic activities will be restored and unhindered.
Accordingly, he stated that presently various committees have been set up to look into the immediate solution to the challenges identified and that the Agency will be duly informed of the outcome, so that NIMASA can assist.
Also concerned with the spate of criminality in the Apapa axis which mostly involves the youths, he requested for the Agency’s assistance in the area of capacity building so as to engage them in meaningful trades that will deter them from criminalities.
In his response, the Director General of NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside noted that services to the community bring development to the populace, hence the need for continuous partnership with our host communities.
Dakuku who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Bashir Jamoh noted that the traffic situation in Apapa was a situation of concern to all parties, because of the security threat it poses.
“The solution to the Apapa gridlock is above the Local Government and NIMASA, it is a national issue which needs the urgent attention of the Federal Government and all stakeholders in the sector. On the immediate, we can be talking about a short-term solution, but on the long run we must have medium and long-term plans on how to tackle the situationâ€, he said.
He further assured the Local Government Chairman and his team of the continuous support of NIMASA to any development that will help resolve the traffic challenge in Apapa, noting however that the Federal Government is doing its best to finding a lasting solution to the persistent traffic situation.
He also added that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government was not resting on its oars to fulfil its election mandate of transforming the economy and making life more comfortable for the Nigerian people.
