Lagos Guber Debate: How I will solve traffic gridlock – Gbadamosi

The candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, has issued three solutions to the traffic gridlock experiences in Lagos. 

Gbadamosi, speaking during The Platform’s Lagos Governorship Debate on Sunday evening, said that what Lagosians have contended with for years can be solved by focusing on three things- rail transport, use of barges and devolution of powers.

Gbadamosi said this when asked about the inability of present administration to solve the gridlock, especially in the Apapa axis of the state.

According to him, the ports, being in Lagos and the level of revenue being lost as a result of the gridlock, was unconscionable.

He said, “There are a number of ways to tackle this problem. The most obvious one is rail. Secondly, barges to lift containers from the actual wharfs and take them to lighter terminals all around Lagos, and, thirdly, devolution of powers. It’s time we started this discussion about devolution of power.

“So, the first thing we are going to do is to copy the Ethiopians and build a heavy rail line, the length of Lagos State – all the way from Badagry to Ode Omi with branches going up to every exit point by road of Lagos.

“The point with this is that all of these exit points must have container terminals where the trains will pass through Apapa and Ibafo will deposit their goods so that people coming from out of state, which is quite common, will not clog up the roads with their trailers.

“Apapa, which is worst hit by traffic in the state is one of eight local governments that are captured under his Lagos Integrated Regeneration Plan.

“We are going to be pouring the money that AlphaBeta is currently taking to make sure that we regenerate that.

“We are going to be looking at traffic – simultaneously, at the same time (with public sector pay). We are going to be looking at the traffic situation because we are spending too many man hours in traffic,” he said.

In his estimation, every Lagosian spends an average of six hours every day going to work and back.

Gbadamosi also included water transport as part of his plans to tackle the issue of traffic in the state. 

“We are going to introduce high volume, high-speed passenger ferries across Lagos,” he added.