Police and Oduduwa Boys Implicated In Oshodi-Apapa Expressway Traffic Chaos....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Lagos — A week after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive to the Lagos State Special Committee on Apapa Traffic to clear the trucks on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway within 24 hours, the ongoing gridlock took a severe turn for the worse. The police and a group known as the Oduduwa Boys have been implicated in the perennial traffic congestion.

Motorists found themselves stuck in traffic for more than six hours, with the gridlock extending from Berger Suya bus stop to Alaba Express bus stop. Some drivers resorted to driving on curbs, causing damage to their vehicles, while others were left frustrated in the standstill.

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Corruption Within the Police and Involvement of Oduduwa Boys

A member of the task force responsible for addressing the traffic issues pointed to corrupt security personnel and a group known as the Oduduwa Boys as contributing factors to the intractable gridlock. He stated, “Corruption within the police is one of the factors. Some police officers have spent 15 years on this road and engage in daily contributions of N25,000. If you redeploy them, they return after one month. Additionally, there is the menace of the Oduduwa Boys who collaborate with the police or act independently, extorting money from truck drivers. These individuals claim they are untouchable because of their connections.”

NPA Source Explains the Gridlock

A source from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) lamented that many trucks cannot reach the ports and placed the blame on certain truckers. The source explained, “The current gridlock along the Mile 2-Tincan axis is caused by tankers occupying the main carriage way and not moving, causing congestion. Many trucks heading to the port are unable to access it. These tankers have refused to adhere to the E-call up system. The Lagos State Government (LASG) and NPA have been engaged in meetings to ensure their compliance.”

Truckers Blame Non-Commissioning of Tin-Can/Oshodi Expressway

Truckers, under the Amalgamation of Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (ACTOAN), attributed the ongoing problem along the Tin-Can Island/Oshodi Expressway to the non-commissioning of completed construction work. The Chairman of ACTOAN, Bello Ridwan, mentioned that the call-up system, known as “ETO,” is not functioning as intended. He called on the Federal Government to establish a team comprising various security agencies and truckers’ unions, which should operate in a mobile capacity to prevent compromise.

Ridwan stressed, “They did not officially open the road, which is why truck drivers are not responding to directives to vacate the road and use designated truck parks. With the ETO call-up system, no truck should be on that road. We urge the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works to complete the construction project and formally open the road for commercial activities. Let all government agencies collaborate in a mobile task force, including unions that can identify non-compliant members.”

He also noted that while the Ports Standing Task Team (PSTT) focused on outward cargo, cooperation from the NPA was crucial. Ridwan emphasized that security agencies and non-state actors along the route needed to be addressed, especially those along the Cocoa-nut to Mile 2 axis, which posed significant challenges to resolving the situation.