Fashola: ‘I Wonder Why Everything’s Falling Into Pieces Under This Federal Government’

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday decried the continuous shutting down of businesses in Apapa area of the state, saying people are living a very traumatic life in that axis of the state due to traffic congestion.

Fashola, who spoke while inspecting the roads in the Apapa area of the state in a bid to find lasting solution to the recurring problem, added that the entire roads had collapsed due to the movement of heavy duty vehicles on the road.

He said, “Businesses are shutting down in Apapa, people are living a very traumatic life. The entire roads have collapsed due to the movement of heavy tonnage. We have managed to create some order on the road but the entrance to the port is where the problem lies.

“So, it is lack of management on the part of those managing the port. It is obvious where the problem is emanating from. 90 percent of the fuels used in this country are distributed through this place.

“I just wonder why everything is falling into pieces under this federal government. Everything about the country is falling into pieces, and Apapa has not been spared. The port cannot be managed. The fuel distribution cannot be managed without causing so much pain.

“The roads have been destroyed. People are sleeping on the road because the central government cannot effectively manage the distribution of fuel.

“People are taking their bath and defecating in the open drain. All the drains have turned to refuse dumps, simply because the federal government wants to give its citizens fuel and run a port”.

The governor, who only last week said for Nigerians to enjoy stable electricity, they have to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party-led federal government, noted that the practice of distributing fuel across the country has been taking place for over 50 years but it had never been this chaotic

“This shows lack of competence on the part of the central government; and it is a shame. We can only try to manage some of the consequencex of this mismanagement”, he said.

Fashola again opined that the long-term solution to the problem was a change in government.

“As long as we continue with this government – because things are not getting better – things are not getting better, but worse. Last year, it was better than this. I do not know what it will be like next year.

“Residents must know that this is not a Lagos State problem but the federal government’s. The responsibility for distribution and maintenance of the roads used for the distribution is federal government’s problem”.

He explained that the state government was already mobilizing to fix the road when the Federal Government came and demanded that they would fix it themselves.

According to him, “It is over a year now. We are yet to ask them what they have done to improve the road. The problem in Apapa is problem caused by lack of proper management of oil distribution and port management.

“I believe that everyone has a role to play. Even the transporters have their own role in addressing this issue. We have some progress within one week. We have established a one lane compliance on Creek road and access to the road”, Fashola added.