By Dickson Omobola
Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has blamed drivers who engaged in counter-flow driving for worsening the gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kehinde Hamzat, said the action of recalcitrant drivers had compounded the traffic situation, especially around the Kara, OPIC and Fagbems areas of the expressway.
He spoke on Newstrack, a Channels TV programme, Wednesday, where he disclosed that there was a joint meeting comprising the controllers of works in Lagos and Ogun states, the Commissioners of Police in Lagos and Ogun states and other stakeholders this morning to address the situation.
His words: “I wouldn’t admit to the fact that it’s getting worse. As of yesterday, things were going as expected till around a few minutes to 12 noon. Unfortunately, a particular container fell across the road, especially around the construction area of Kara. So, when it happened, men and officers of the Corps actually started attending to the fallen container.
“Unfortunately, some recalcitrant drivers resorted to driving against the flow of traffic, thereby blocking people coming into Lagos.
“These people coming into Lagos were blocked and choked at OPIC, turning around Fagbems. Some people were already on the Long Bridge coming into Lagos, but never knew what was happening in front. They made a U-turn and went through Punch and started following and driving against traffic, counter-flowing the people that were supposed to be coming outward Lagos. They thought it was a free lane, not knowing that there was a crash that had already happened.
“So, by the time the container was lifted, the people who were supposed to be moving freely now had a confrontation, let me use that word, with the people who had already been driving in a counter-flow order, that is, coming and driving against traffic. So, driving against traffic is for inward and outward now as it is. So, the choke point has been opened.
“Even when the container that fell had been removed, because of the indiscipline on the part of road users, they blocked everything, and it became a complete gridlock. So, that is what we have been battling with.
“This morning, there was a joint meeting comprising the controllers of works in Lagos and Ogun, the Commissioners of Police in Lagos and Ogun, and other stakeholders, including myself. We met and there is a maximum deployment now, ensuring that people who are driving against traffic are completely curtailed.
“It is flowing, but at a snail’s speed, because the thing has tripled into every axis of the Lagos and Ogun axis. But given the period of time, as long as we continue to block those people driving against traffic, it will be a win-win situation. Over time, I believe, the gridlock will fizzle off.
“Men, armed personnel, and men of LASTMA, police, even the military, are there now to ensure that people driving against traffic are stopped completely. That is where we are. This driving against traffic has been stopped completely.
“Sincerely, I want to tell you that most of the men slept on the road. Even if you look at my face, you will see an element of not sleeping very well, which means the number of personnel we deployed yesterday has been multiplied.
“The Lagos State Commissioner of Police deployed additional men, Ogun State Commissioner of Police deployed additional men, FRSC Lagos and Ogun deployed additional men. Everybody knows that this is a problem that must be solved. So it doesn’t matter how we feel, it’s a temporary thing.
“After the whole thing, I mean, peace will come. That’s exactly what we’re working towards. It is not over until it is over. Every hand must be on deck until we see through this.
“To commuters, road users, I mean, if you’re tired, naturally, you’re not supposed to drive more than four hours. So, if it happens, you can conveniently park at either a gas station or any convenient place and relax for about 10-15 minutes, then you continue with your journey.”
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