By Efe Onodjae
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Transportation Logistics to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Hassan Adekoya, has said that extortion along the Apapa port corridor may be difficult to completely eradicate despite efforts by government and stakeholders to restore order in the area.
Adekoya made the remark during an interview on Arise Television, as monitored by Vanguard, while evaluating measures introduced to improve traffic flow and boost business activities around the Lagos ports.
According to him, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), working with the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders, achieved significant success in addressing challenges along the corridor.
He said the initiative received strong support from the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, led by Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, as well as other government officials involved in the exercise.
“For the intervention of PEBEC in Lagos Port, it was a beautiful initiative. They were able to achieve a lot with the support of the Lagos State Government. We were fully involved,” he said.
Adekoya, however, noted that despite the dismantling of several illegal structures and bottlenecks, extortion activities resurfaced shortly afterwards.
“After the dismantling, we all saw that the extortionists were back. Princess Zahra did a beautiful job by leading the Renewed Hope Initiative to ensure safety and sanity along the corridor. We have gained a lot in terms of business activities on this route,” he stated.
He added: “But I will tell you for free today, the extortion on that corridor cannot stop. It has come to stay.”
The governor’s aide maintained that while extortion remains a challenge, the Lagos State Government has largely fulfilled its promise to eliminate the notorious Apapa traffic gridlock.
He said motorists can now travel from Apapa to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in less than 20 minutes and from Apapa to Victoria Island within a similar timeframe.
“For the dismantling of the bottlenecks, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised during its campaign that it would end the Apapa gridlock. Today, I can tell you that the gridlock is no more,” he said.
