Sanwo-Olu: We’ll name and shame beneficiaries of Apapa rot

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state, says individuals and organisations benefitting from the traffic gridlock in Apapa and Tin Can Island ports will be named and shamed.

He said this during an event on Wednesday, while commending the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for the new electronic call up (e-call up) system for trucks going to the ports.

The e-call up system commenced on February 27, 2021, after a joint agreement between NPA, Lagos state government and stakeholders to address irresponsible parking of trucks on port access roads in Apapa.

It was designed to control entry and exit of trucks at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.

At the event, Sanwo-Olu said: “We will name and shame them, be it a corporate organisation, be it a company, be it a police officer, be it a Lagos state officer, whoever it is, be it a union—that will say that the solution that we have brought about will not work.

“They will go and answer to the citizens of Lagos and the citizens of Nigeria. We will take them to the public courts for them to see that we are about seriousness. We will not condone the recklessness and the carelessness that our citizens have gone through.

“And I want to use this opportunity to commend the managing director and management of NPA because they have worked with us on this agenda.”

He called on the big players in the transportation and logistics industry to corporate with the state government on the new e-call system.

“My appeal is to others who have not signed on to this wonderful e-call up system.

“I want to call most of the big transport logistics companies to collaborate with us such as SIFAX, Dangote, Flour Mills, Tunde Folawiyo. Let us have a system that our citizens are proud of.

“This is one of our modest attempt to solve transportation and traffic problems in Lagos.”

Sanwo-Olu further said the state taskforce will be working 24/7 in solving the gridlock at Apapa.

Meanwhile, the state governor had said adequate towing vehicles would be deployed to impound trucks parked illegally around the ports corridor.