WHY I’M CONVENING TRAFFIC SUMMIT – AMBODE

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday hosted the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, reiterating the need for all stakeholders in the transportation sector to key into his administration’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the metropolis.

The Governor who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said government has concluded plans to quickly convene a traffic summit that would bring all stakeholders together to outline permanent solutions to traffic management in the state.

“We are more interested in the safety management issues that relates to road transportation and just like you said also we have had some fire incidences that relates to trailers on our roads in the last three weeks and one is beginning to wonder whether it is about enforcement of the rules or is it about human issues that are causing these”, he said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna.

He said it was important that all agencies and stakeholders handling traffic management would need to come together and tinker solutions to traffic gridlock in the state.

 “I am excited to receive you. As you can see in the last three weeks, we have actually been outside there trying to resolve vehicular traffic issues in Lagos State. One of the things that we came into office to meet and actually one issue that bother Lagosians is the issue of traffic gridlock”.

“Lagosians are unhappy the way traffic has been flowing in the last few years and for us we believe strongly that its one major strong issue that we need redress quickly and that is why we have been outside there trying to find solutions and in the course of finding solutions we believe also that we need to cooperate stronger more than ever before with your agency”, he said.

The Governor also appealed to tank farm owners in the Apapa axis to partner with government and stakeholders to find a permanent solution to the traffic gridlock that is being experienced in the area.

“More importantly they must ensure that the safety concerns of these trailers and tankers drivers are actually put in the front burner and we address them together and we should also make all the people support our law enforcement agencies as we strive to make Apapa come back to normal”, he said.

Speaking earlier, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi expressed happiness at the bold steps already taken by the Ambode administration concerning traffic management.

He said that the FRSC is operating on the same page with the State on its efforts to curb the menace of tankers and trailer drivers on the roads, adding that henceforth the Commission will not compromise on minimum safety standards for all articulated vehicles.

He said Lagos was doing well under the uniform licensing scheme and that the State recorded the highest number of workstation nationwide for the issuance of the new drivers’ license, adding that Lagos remains the only state that has a focus on transportation management.