FG confirms disbandment of Opeifa Task Team on Apapa Traffic

Peter Olaniyi   |    

The Federal government has confirmed the disbandment of the Presidential task team on Apapa Traffic

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation; Dr Magdalene Ajayi last weekend confirmed the disbandment

The confirmation came on the heels of allegations against the team of being grossly compromised in the management of the chaotic traffic in Apapa.

Recall that the Presidential Task Team on restoration of law and order in Apapa started its work on May 24, 2019 following a Presidential directive issued for the immediate clearing up of the Apapa gridlock and the restoration of law and order to Apapa and its environs.

Although, the Task Force is headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, its Vice chairman; Mr Kayode Opeifa is in charge of its daily activities.

The Permanent Secretary spoke on Friday at the stakeholders’ meeting to appraise the Apapa traffic. The meeting held after the Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi had led senior officials of the ministry, and chief executives of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Hadiza Bala Usman and Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC); Mr Hassan Bello and others on an inspection of the roads leading to Lagos ports.

At the meeting, which was attended by stakeholders, including shipping companies, terminal operators, truck owners, the workers’ union, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Police, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, some of those who spoke specifically alleged that operatives of the task force do compromise and extort truck drivers.

Apparently shocked at the barrage of allegations against the Presidential Task Force, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation; Dr Magdalene Ajayi disclosed that the task force has ceased to exist.

“The Task Force has been disbanded, the Vice President told me so, he told me that the task force is no longer in existence”, she declared, even as she said that she was looking for document relating to the creation of the body

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