The Oshodi-Apapa expressway and its surrounding areas witnessed severe gridlock yesterday, with motorists and commuters enduring hours of traffic congestion due to indiscriminate parking by oil tankers and container drivers.
This resurgence of traffic chaos comes in defiance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive to vacate highways and bridges in the state. Tanker drivers effectively paralyzed the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, causing immense frustration for motorists and residents alike.
Despite the establishment of a Special Joint Traffic Team aimed at managing traffic flow, no enforcement measures were in place to tackle the situation, leaving motorists stranded for hours.
The causes of the gridlock, according to officials such as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, and the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, include ongoing road construction and operational activities at oil depots.
While efforts have been made to direct tankers to provide access lanes for other road users, the situation persists, with motorists expressing outrage at the lack of enforcement and discipline among truck drivers.
The gridlock not only inconveniences commuters but also poses significant economic costs, with estimates suggesting losses of over N100 billion monthly for businesses operating in the area. Despite interventions and enforcement efforts, the problem persists, exacerbated by factors such as inadequate parking facilities and bribery of enforcement agencies.
Efforts by the Lagos state government, including impounding illegally parked trucks, have yet to yield sustainable results, leaving enforcement agencies seemingly powerless against the recurring gridlock.
