Fear, Uncertainty In Apapa As FG Withdraws Presidential Task Force

Concerns are beginning to mount over Imminent chaos following the withdrawal of the Presidential Taskforce from Apapa roads.

This mood of uncertainty is fuelled by the absence of officials of Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who are expected to monitor vehicular activities and  traffic situation in the axis.

The delegation of traffic management to LASTMA is sequel to the federal Government decision to hand over the restoration and maintenance of law and order to the Lagos State Government.

It was learnt the decision to hand over the continued enforcement of law and order to Lagos was taken at a meeting with the representatives of the Vice President, Nigeria Port Authority, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and other federal agencies last Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari had inaugurated a Presidential Taskforce headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Comrade Kayode Opeifa as Vice Chairman to restore sanity on the axis following the near-total collapse of law and order which led to indiscriminate parking of trucks, tankers, containerized heavy-duty vehicles on roads leading to Apapa and its environs.

With the Presidential Taskforce, normalcy has returned on the axis with the disappearance of trucks and tankers on the bridges and roads on Ikorodu road, Iganmu road, and other axis leading to Apapa.

The taskforce team was able to ensure easy access to Apapa for the residents, business owners, and other stakeholders.

But there have been serious concerns among stakeholders and residents over the ability of LASTMA to sustain normalcy and build on the success recorded by the presidential task force.

They lamented the traffic management agency was yet to take control of the axis days after the decision was taken and the chaotic traffic situation has begun to resurface.

A resident, Seun Adeoye, said: “We are afraid that the situation in Apapa may get worse with this decision. This is a problem that the military couldn’t solve.

“Now businesses are returning to the axis due to the normalcy returned by the presidential task force.

*Before the advent of the Osinbajo-led Presidential Taskforce, corruption had taken over in the axis.

“But the task force men were able to deal with its strategy put in place. I don’t think LASTMA is prepared for this onerous task.”