The special adviser to Lagos State Governor on transportation, Hon. Toyin Fayinka on Wednesday revealed how the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was able to put an end to the traffic gridlock in the Apapa area of the state and restore sanity.
While appearing as a guest on Wednesday’s edition of ‘Lagos Today’ on Lagos Television to speak on the traffic agenda of the state, Fayinka said Governor Sanwo-olu has been passionate about the actualization of free flow of traffic in Apapa access port areas and environs.
Recall that in March 2021, Sanwo-Olu constituted the Lagos State Special Traffic Management Enforcement Team headed by Hon. Fayinka, with the responsibility of resolving the incessant gridlock that has plagued Apapa and its environs.
Speaking on compliance level to the new order, Fayinka said there has been a lot of improvement.
“Mr. Governor has given us a marching order and immediately he gave that directive, we set out to do that which was assigned to us. I will not sit down here telling you the traffic situation is good or it is bad. Respectively, let me put it on the table of journalists, go and check now, meanwhile in checking now and coming up with your conclusion, try and think back. How was it one year ago compared with what we are seeing now?” Fayinka said.
Following the state government’s intervention, residents are now experiencing a surge in price of properties in Apapa as against when some habitants abandoned their residences and other properties to safe abodes due to the perennial gridlock.
Fayinka however attributed the traffic congestion in Apapa to the selfishness on the part of some stakeholders extorting truckers on the Apapa corridor of Apapa.
“The cause of traffic in Apapa is man-made because of the selfishness of some. We knew it was not going to be easy but it is achievable. Some people that are extorting truckers on that corridor have been evicted and sanity restored,” Fayinka said.
“Larger stakeholders are cooperating with us. The truckers are happy to have a seamless operation; they are cooperating and we enjoy their cooperation to a very large extent,” he added.