Ago-Palace Way: Council boss meets with stakeholders, Police for lasting solution to indiscriminate parking of trucks, traffic gridlock
By Damilola Kushimo
For an effective and lasting solution to the menace of indiscriminate parking of trucks on Ago Palace Way, the Executive Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Otunba Adebayo Olasoju has sought an operational partnership with stakeholders and police officers in the community.
The council boss had made an early-morning inspection visit to the area, yesterday to have a firsthand experience of the activities of terminal operators whose trucks pack indiscriminately on the highway at the expense of other motorists and pedestrians.
Prior to this time, there have been cases of avoidable accidents and severe traffic gridlock on the highway as caused by the indiscriminate parking of vehicles especially container trucks on the highway.
The chairman in the company of the Divisional Police Officer of Ago Police Division, CSP Ladi Tarpaya, the Chairman of Ago Phase 2 United Forum (APUF), the Chairman of Greenfield Estate, Chief Monday Akunna met with some terminal owners in the community calling for a stop to the indiscriminate parking of their trucks on the highway.
Olasoju warned that the council may resort to taking stringent measures against them which include a partnership with the Lagos State Environment and Enforcement and Special Offence Unit (Taskforce) should the menace continues.
It was learnt that some arrests of truck drivers and motor boys who were caught in the act of parking their trucks on the highway were arrested by the DPO and will be charged to court for traffic obstruction.
Commenting on the chairman’s visit the , the Chairman of APUF, Prince Nixon Okwara commended the council boss for his swift inspection visit to the area explaining that he had only reached out to him the night before about the need to visit the highway.
He explained that during the inspection it was discovered that some of the terminal operators operate illegally in the area as they do not have the facility to house their container trucks hence they resorted to the roadside causing perpetual traffic gridlock and preventable accidents.
He expressed his optimism that with the council boss spirited commitment and partnership with the community and police, there will be a lasting end to the menace for the deserved convenience of all road users in the axis.
His words: “Such prompt response from the chairman is very commendable and it is an indication of his total commitment to the welfare of the people and his readiness to work. The community are so impressed as we’ve seen the chairman demonstrate his strength and willingness meanwhile in conjunction with the DPO, we’ve taken some decisions and some arrest were made there.
“Some of the drivers were arrested and they will be charged to court for obstruction the highway. It is a welcome development and we the residents have swung into compliance with the directive of the chairman, he has given us some steps to be taken. We are all working together for a permanent solution.”
