Worried by the traffic gridlock that has almost grounded activities in Lagos in the past few weeks, the state government after a strategic meeting on Thursday has taken steps to provide palliatives to address the perennial traffic logjam.
Arising from a strategic meeting involving Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA), Chris Olakpe, General Manager, LASTMA, Olawale Musa, Commissioner for Transportation, Ladi Lawanson, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Taiwo Salaam and others, the government said Lagosians have been subjected to difficulties in the past few weeks because of the traffic situation.
Answering questions from State House Correspondents after the meeting, Olakpe said the government is going to expedite action on trailer parks to cushion the effect of trailers parking on the roads and blocking traffic.
The government, he said, will continue with the palliatives measures on the pot holes on the roads and has consequently adopted a-2way approach as repairs would now be carried out on the bad roads both in the day time and at night.
He also disclosed that the government has just recruited 1000 additional LASTMA personnel to carry out traffic management/control duties with other officers who have been on ground to ensure free movement of traffic.
Olakpe warned vandals to desist from vandalizing the wire barriers on the highways saying it was frustrating the effort of government, urging Lagosians to cooperate with the government in its effort to ensure orderliness on the highway especially as the yuletide is here.
He warned that anybody caught vandalising the wire barriers would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The government further warned those who are in the habit of attacking LASTMA officials in the course of their duty to cease or face the full wrath of the law, urging Lagosians to cooperate with LASTMA to ensure free flow of traffic.
Briefing correspondents earlier on the meeting, Lawanson said the palliative measures were to address the perennial traffic situation which the state has been experiencing in the past few weeks.
And the steps being taken to address the situation as agreed on at the meeting was due to feedback from traffic personnel on the field, “we have therefore come up with solutions to make Lagos traffic better in the Yuletide”, the transportation commissioner said.
