Lagos State government has commenced the removal and clearance of trucks parked indiscriminately along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat said this during a Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting organised by Apapa Local Government at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa.
“In an attempt to tackle these enormous challenges, the administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continuously partnering with the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders in the maritime sector to get the heavy articulated vehicles off the road permanently around Apapa axis and improve traffic along the corridor,” he said.
Sebanjo said the meeting was meant to fashion out a Strategic Plan that will guide the operations, and transformation of Apapa over the next three years.
“The goal is to reposition Apapa into a 21″ Century Modern Port City. As identified stakeholders, you would agree with me that this council has suffered a gross reputational loss due to its many challenges, chiefly the incessant traffic menace and its perpetual poor environmental measures, which has led to an exodus of people and massive vacation of both homes and businesses in Apapa”, she said.
The council, she said, was lacking in a critical modern development with dwindling opportunities for innovative activities between the port and the community.
She stated that several training sessions have been held for the management team to enhance their capacities to key into Governor Sanwo Olu’s THEMES agenda.
She said: “While some of our initiatives are ongoing, the trajectories for others have been put in motion by my incredible team. I hereby acknowledge all of your hard work and resilience.
“It is hoped that this laudable Strategic Meeting will seek to review the focus of our administrative achievements and success and provide new strategic imperatives and the strategic vision needed to transform Apapa into a 21st Century Modern Port City, despite unrelenting economic challenges and evolving community needs.
“In today’s world, port administrators need to be more strategic in their thinking to overcome present and future challenges, building internal operational efficiencies and ensuring that development extends to every nook and crannies of the Port’s neighbouring communities. Therefore, this administration’s strategic focus is geared towards the transitions and transformation from a Golden city to a Modern Port City that everyone will be proud of.
“This session, it is hoped would help us in this regard. It will X-ray both internal and external stakeholder contributions and help us to harness our collective commitment towards transforming Apapa into a 21st century Modern Port City”.
She disclosed that the council has appointed consultants from Alder Consulting and Rubric Strategic Consulting Ltd to facilitate the process of communicating and fashioning out a clear strategic direction and plan for the next three years.
“To help us facilitate and guide this process and chart the journey to our achievements via a strategic blueprint, the Council has appointed a few consultant to facilitate the process of communicating our brand imperative by Alder Consulting and for fashioning out a clear strategic direction and plan for the next three years (2022-2024) by Rubric Strategic Consulting Ltd.
“I will like to stress that the Council is very serious not only about the meeting, but also about our execution of the actions and the decisions to be arrived at. It is my duty as the Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area with the council of Executives and Legislative team to ensure that the strategic plans developed in this strategy meeting is swiftly and clinically executed”, she said.
