Following a request for extension by members of the taskforce and other stakeholders, the Federal Government has extended by two weeks, the time given to the Presidential Task Team on the Apapa gridlock to resolve the matter .
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, approved the extension at a meeting of the Presidential Taskforce with stakeholders held at the Presidential Villa, earlier in the week.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, commenced its assignment on May 24 and had up to June 7 to complete the assignment.
He said: “The presidential directive was issued for the clearing up of the Apapa gridlock and the restoration of law and order to Apapa and its environs within 2 weeks.
“The directive followed an emergency meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on the 25th of April, 2019.
“While the Vice President chairs the task force, its daily operations are supervised by an Executive Vice Chairman, Comrade Kayode Opeifa.”
He said that the panel is now expected to present a formal report at the end of its extended mandate on June 24.
According to the Vice President at the meeting held on Tuesday “we will extend the tenure of the taskforce by two weeks and we must all work together to be able to resolve all the issues raised here today.”
He warned that “we will not allow any interests to undermine our nation’s economy”.
Membership of the team is drawn from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Shippers Council.
Other members include a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force led by a Commissioner of Police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), representatives of the Truck Transport Union, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and other relevant MDAs.
