- Threatens forfeiture of any truck flouting traffic law
By Demilade Adeniyi
Lagos State Government read the riot act against truck and trailer operators yesterday, indicating that it will not hesitate to impound for months, any vehicle found contravening the Lagos State Traffic Reform Law 2018.
It also restricted truck movements to dedicated routes, and night time, saying any trucks found moving on other routes outside the laid down ones, or moving in the day time, would be heavily sanctioned.
It said when the initiative become operational, trucks will only be permitted to move in Lagos between 9pm to 6am.
The Commissioner of Transportation Frederic Oladeinde made these known at at a stakeholders meeting on the implementation of trucks and long vehicles restriction to night time operation and dedicated routes in Lagos State, which held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, the state secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said the restriction was in strict compliance to Section 45 of the Transport Reform Law, and it is aimed at sanitizing Apapa, rid the state of traffic congestion and ensure that other road users have access and make use of the roads.
According to him, the development is part of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s continuous efforts to curb the consistent road crashes attributed to the activities/operations of trucks/trailers on roads.
Oladeinde said: “This is in line with Mr Governors’ THEMES Agenda especially as it relates to Traffic Management and Transportation and the ease of doing business in the State.
“Some of the things that we will be enforcing are restrictions of containerised trailers and trucks on our roads will now be from 9:00pm to 6:00am.
“Containerised trailers are not allowed to travel during the day, it has to be at night time between the time of 9pm and 6am. They have to abide by this timing in accordance with the Transportation Law, 2018.”
He said that the high percentage of road crashes involving articulated vehicles were caused by human error as statistics had shown that in 2018, there was a total of 1,671 crashes and in 2019, there was 1, 934 accidents.
Acoording to him, the state would collaborate with the law enforcement agencies, Department of Petroleum Resources, and other critical stakeholders in implementing some of these strategies.
He said that state government would also collaborate on provision of security for day and night operations, state government infrastructure development in terms of road, truck parks, road signages and road, call-up systems and others.
He said that the government had defined dedicated industrial and boundaries routes for trucks and trailers.
The commissioner added: “There will be routes where trailers will be restricted. Trailers can no longer travel across the whole of Lagos, we will make sure that we provide the essential infrastructure.
“We must keep our road safe. The amount of trailers that fall on our road is very alarming. It is important that we protect the people of Lagos State and it is important that we protect their properties.”
He said that state would also enforce the maximum number of 45, 000 liters expected by tankers to lift from tank farms.
“We have experienced a lot of tankers that carried about 90, 000 litres and have to break down on the road.
“Any tanker that carries more than 45, 000 liters we will consficate. We will ensure that such tanker is sanctioned,” Oladeinde said.
He said that articulated vehicle operators should ensure drivers’ training and retraining and must ensure that their drivers were competent and of good character
Oladeinde, who called for support from stakeholders, said that meeting was to arrive at a mutually agreed position on seamless implementation of the strategy.
“I urge us as stakeholders, on whose shoulder the responsibility of driving the implementation these strategies lies, to work hard and support the State Government for a successful implementation.
“I also employ us all to take advantage of the follow up session to deliberate on modalities that will enhance seamless implementation of the strategies,” he said.
Explaining the route restriction, Mr Abdul-Hafiz Toriola, Director of Transport Operations, Ministry of Transportation, said trucks and trailers are banned from plying Ojota, Maryland, Palmgroove, Fadeyi, Western Avenue to Apapa.
Toriola said that such long vehicles from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would ply Alapere-Ogudu-Gbagada-Oshodi Apapa Expressway to Apapa and follow same route out of Lagos.
Contributing, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, the General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said that everyday trucks/trailers breaks down on highways and paralyse traffic movement.
Oduyoye, who applauded the restriction, said that such would lessen stress of LASTMA officials towing vehicles and end unnecessary killings by some of the drivers.
In his comment, Mr Akin-George Fashola, Director, Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service, said that time had come for truck/trailer operators to ensure road worthiness of their vehicles to safe the state and lives and livelihood of residents.
Meanwhile, stakeholders, truck operators and associations represented at the members commended the routes restriction but raised objection on 9pm to 6am movement restriction citing impact on economy and lack of security at Night.
A representative of the Nigeria Port Authority, Mr Ayodele Durowaye said: This re-engineering is very commendable but strict implementation of 9pm to 6am timing will affect the system of port fundamentally.”
Ayodele, who expressed concern over security on people’s investment at night, called for more engagement to find way forward.
Also speaking, Chief Remi Ogungbemi from Association of Maritime Truck Owner, (AMATO) urged the state government to have a rethink on 9pm to 6am restriction for truck operators so as not to create a bigger problem, said trucks were movers of the economy.
The President, Corporate Fleet Truck Owners, Mr Folake George, said that because of security and economy, the way was to restrict trucks from peak periods in the state to protect the maritme industry.
In his remarks, Mr Oluwatoyin Fayinka, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the state was ready to enforce the law to protect lives of its citizen without sentiment, saying any erring truck/trailer would be towed and confiscated.
He said Lagos State is now in charge of traffic control in Apapa and the team appointed by the governor to drive the assignment will commence work in April.
He said enforcement will be total, adding that all operators have between now and March to put their vehicles in order as no stone would be left unturned to rid the roads of any truck or trailer that has no business being on Lagos roads.
He urged all stakeholders to partner with the government in ridding the state of traffic congestion.
He said: “Our responsibility is to ensure that we do everything possible to alleviate the sufferings of the majority of the people, and to make sure that we all have a state that we can be proud of. In doing this we need the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially in the transport sector to ensure that we all play our part in making sure we get rid of congestion.”
