Worried over the perennial traffic jam that has become the identity of the Apapa-Oshodi expressway, Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps towards making other seaports functional so as to decongest Apapa ports and its environs.
According to him, this will also help government save funds spent on managing the traffic and regular repair of roads damaged by articulated vehicles.
He also stressed that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu needs to design a way in which petroleum products would be transported through oil pipelines.
Ambode said: “In the last one week, everyone can see that there has been appreciable improvement in the traffic experience within the axis.
“We are grateful to the President for his intervention. We believe that every layer of government should collaborate to resolve the crisis.
“But we all should know that the Apapa crisis is more than just the traffic issue.
“All states depend on it for revenue through the Nigeria Customs Service because the revenue is shared at the Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC).
If anything goes wrong at the ports, whatever they get from the place could reduce,” he said.
He added that the reconstruction of a section of the Apapa-Oshodi expressway yet to be completed would begin within the next two weeks.
He urged Lagos residents to be calm and bear with the state government over the construction works that came with inconvenience, adding that he was optimistic that the residents would again rejoice after this period.