The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has berated Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the traffic congestion that subjected motorists to several hours of anguish on Monday. There was traffic snarl on the Third Mainland Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Ojuelegba, Apapa and other connecting routes on Monday following the indiscriminate parking by articulated truck drivers on bridges and other strategic routes.
Reacting to the development, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos State, Taofik Gani, told our correspondent that the indiscriminate parking was a direct consequence of the restriction on the movement of articulated trucks between 6am and 9pm by the Ambode-led government. Gani said Ambode was fond of taking decisions without anticipating the consequences. He, therefore, urged the governor to learn more about the peculiarities of Lagos State. He said:
“What we are saying now is that all the problems in the state such as the worsening traffic situation in the state is a reflection of Governor Ambode’s inability to manage the state. It is a reflection of his unpreparedness to lead.
“Without trying to sound disrespectful, Lagos is crumbling under Governor Ambode. There is serious traffic congestion, Lagos State University is in its worst crisis ever and yet he says the state is moving forward. Lagos has been stagnant since he took over. He needs to apologise to the people of Lagos.”
Gani said Ambode should have declared a state of emergency on the traffic situation in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre within his first 100 days in office. He, however, said Ambode was unable to do this having failed to appoint a special adviser or commissioner after over 110 days in office.
The PDP spokesperson wondered why the traffic situation continued to worsen under the All Progressives Congress-led government despite claims by the immediate past administration of Babatunde Fashola that hundreds of ferry operators had been licensed by the government as well as the billions spent on the light rail project. He said the state government should embark on a realistic overhaul of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority rather than issue directives that would be of no effect to the agency.