Presidential Task Team Issues Scorecard, Says Any Congestion In Apapa Can Now Be Cleared in 2-hours

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Presidential Task Team (PTT) on Law and Order in Apapa has said that with the Operational Order, Guidelines and Modus Operandi that were developed and released by the team, any road congestion can be cleared in Apapa within 2 to 6 hours if these guidelines are followed.

The former Executive Vice Chairman of the Task Team , Comrade Kayode Opeifa stated this in a statement made available in Abuja after its handing over, officially to the Lagos State Government.

Opeifa said his task team has succeeded in restoring order on the Lagos Seaports Access Roads and others leading to that port area, within the time it discharged the mandate given it by the Federal Government.

According to him, the current operating system backed by appropriate enforcement has the capacity to clean up any congestion within two to six hours with the cooperation of major stakeholders and an effective incidence and recovery management system by LASTMA and LRU.

He said the work of the PTT also led to the development and deployment of a Manual Call Up system pending the introduction of an electronic system by the NPA adding that the system incorporated into the Traffic management plan envisaged trucks are called from nominated parks into Transit Parks (Lilypond and Tincan Island Transit Truck Parks) for call up into the Ports.

According to Opeifa, working with NPA and the NSC led to the development and deployment of a workable empty container return handling policy to handle empty containers,reduction in the cost of Port Cargo Haulage from the Ports to different parts of the country and an improved Port Cargo Trucks haulage throughput /turnaround time.

He said the PTT also removed all stationary trucks on roads leading to the Ports while its assignment lasted.

According to Opeifa , following the restoration of relative normalcy on the Lagos Ports Access roads axis, with a massive reduction in congestion and traffic, the task force completed its task and decided to withdraw on October 7, 2020.

He said that the activities of the PTT , while it lasted have continued to have positive multiplier effects on road congestion, haulage and cost of doing business in Lagos ports and even its environs.

The former PTT boss disclosed that the presidential task team charged with the responsibility of Restoration of Law and Order on Lagos roads leading to Apapa and around Lagos Port and Maritime Logistics Corridor has successfully handed over its activities to the LASG to be supported by the Lagos State Police Command.

He stated that the handover process started on November 8, 2020 and was officially completed on December 29, 2020 adding that the Task Team enumerated few recommendations , which it said, if followed, would ensure total elimination of gridlock on Lagos ports roads in future.

Opeifa pointed out that as a result of the activities and efforts of the Team made up of representatives of the Inspector General of Police, Lagos State Government, NPA, NSC, PEBEC, FRSC, FMWH, Dry Cargo Truckers, Wet Cargo Truckers, Apapa residents and Local Government and NUPENG/PTD union, the following outcomes were recorded.

The former EVC of the PTT outlined the benefits as restoration of law and order on all roads leading to the Lagos Ports and within the Lagos Port maritime logistic corridors, removal of all stationary trucks on Lagos roads leading to the Ports, and development and deployment of an efficient and effective Traffic management plan for the entire port area traffic ,including the cargo, fuel distribution and business district traffic.

Others, he said include Traffic Management Direction as contained in the Presidential Task Team released Operational Order, Guidelines and Modus Operandi which incorporates Port Operations, Incident rescue management, Truck Throughput and Park Management and special purpose Apapa Port Area Traffic Management with strict enforcement protocols.