The publisher of Oriwu Sun newspaper and member of Oba Shotobi’s advisory council (kitchen cabinet) in Ikorodu, Alhaji (Chief) Monzor Olowosago, has showered praises on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for effectively tackling the perennial traffic bottleneck between Ikorodu and Ketu.
Chief Olowosago, in a press statement, noted that the traffic gridlock at Mile 12 area, which had persisted for more than thirty (30) years and defied previous administrations’ efforts, has been decisively tackled by the Ambode’s administration.
According to him, Governor Ambode who has been described by many Lagosians as a listening Governor and achiever, swung into action soon after he assumed duties and hearkened to the outcry of commuters in Ikorodu, Ijebu Ode and even Epe, who pass through the Ikorodu-Mile 12 road to Lagos daily and who wasted several million man hours each day on traffic.
The publisher noted that Governor Ambode devised a strategy to build a barrier on both sides of the highway, forcing commercial drivers (Danfos) to their own lanes and pedestrians to use the overhead bridges; thus, freeing the main lanes for traffic from Ikorodu to Ketu and vice versa drive.
Explaining further the workings of the system, Chief Olowosago said that since no pedestrian can cross the barriers and no commercial vehicle can move into the main highway or drop passengers anyhow, traffic flow is now smooth.
Any pedestrian crossing the barrier into the highway may as well be a suicide candidate; the publisher said. This brilliant idea, which previous administrations in the state could not find or use, was hatched by Gov. Ambode and his exco members, who brainstormed for weeks/months to find a solution. The result, he said, is that whereas road users spent two to three hours between Ikorodu and Ketu previously, they can now make the trip in about 25 minutes since early this year; thereby, saving precious productive hours for each commuter.
The newspaper publisher therefore commended Governor Ambode and his team for listening to the outcry of Ikorodu people in particular saying that the demarcation (fencing) did not only free traffic flow, it also added beauty to the road.
He urged Ambode to ensure that the demarcations are painted and that traffic wardens, KAI officials and other service personnel are deployed to enforce the use of pedestrian bridges and compel commercial buses to their lanes.