Plans underway to move tank farms from Apapa-Oshodi Road — Obanikoro via @iKanzee_RR

LAGOS—The Minister of State for Defence,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro disclosed,
yesterday, in Lagos that there were plans to
relocate the tank farms along the Oshodi/
Apapa expressway as a way of finding a
lasting solution to the unending gridlock.
Obanikoro, who disclosed this during his visit
to Oshodi/Apapa expressway also urged the
Lagos State Government to provide a
permanent parking bay for trucks, from where
drivers could be reached.
Obanikoro, explained that the visit became
pertinent following the security implication of
allowing trucks to use the road as a park.
He, however, applauded  steps taken by the
Western Naval Command, WNC, to ease the
flow of traffic along the expressway, including
other areas witnessing gridlock but added that
the WNC’s effort might not be a permanent
one since it was not its constitutional duty to
control traffic.
*Traffic congestion on the Berger axis of
Oshodi-Apapa expressway
According to him: “I am here to familiarise
myself  with the activities of the Nigeria Navy
around the Ports area because I know that for
some time now, we have been looking at the
security implication of allowing trailers and
trucks to use the road as a park.
“There are plans and we are also working with
all stakeholders to ensure that the threat to
this corridor is kept under check. It is not
easy to just close all these tank farms
overnight. What is important now is to call for
more vigilance on the part of all the
operators.
“I want to assure you that all the security
agencies in the country are aware and  alert
to what is at stake and everything humanly
possible is being done to avert any calamity.
“I am happy that, so far, all those trucks have
been moved and passage way created so that
there could be free vehicular movement around
the ports, thus eliminating the security
implication of just having trucks and
containers littering the entire road.
“This is largely due to the effort of the
Western Naval Command’s ability to engage
all the stakeholders.”
He stated that the present administration was
doing all it could to handle the situation,
pointing out that part of its effort was the
ongoing construction of a parking bay for
trucks at Tin-Can Island Port.
He, therefore, said that this was not time to
trade blames but a time for the Lagos State
Government to partner with the Nigerian Ports
Authority and other stakeholders to find a
lasting solution to the situation.
“I am not going to join Lagos State
Government in the blame game. What is
important to me is that all of us have a
responsibility to the good people of this
country and particularly Lagos state.”