Govt vows to reduce traffic gridlock to boost investors’ confidence

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it would leave no stone unturned to attract investors through the reduction of traffic congestion in the state.

Mr Steve Ayorinde, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, disclosed this in Lagos at the maiden edition of the Lagos Traffic Radio Lecture Series, themed: ``Migrating Workforce: The Challenges of Mass Transportation’’.

``This administration is determined to make Lagos State and investor’s delight, a place where every investor gets its money’s worth.

``For this to become a reality, the traffic situation must be well managed, a task which the traffic radio is wholly committed to fulfilling.

``For us to accomplish the free flow of traffic in a megalopolis state like Lagos, we all have significant roles to play; we must obey traffic regulations as well as comply with traffic rules.

``LASTMA officials are our brothers and sisters; we must cooperate with them in order to keep Lagos traffic moving.’’

Ayorinde said that the lecture series was informed by the need for regular interface of ideas by stakeholders in the transportation sector.

He said it was to profer solution to the ever increasing traffic challenges in the state.

According to the state’s Commissioner of Transport, Mr Ekundayo Mobereola, uneven urban growth and development, inadequate transport infrastructure, limited alternatives to vehicular transportation, and lack of high capacity vehicles are responsible for the traffic gridlock.

``All of these lead to chronic traffic congestion and this contribute to noise and air pollution in Lagos,’’ he said.

Mobereola said that his ministry had collaborated with the state’s Ministry of Physical Planning over years, to utilise the Land Use to prepare a master plan to curb the menace.

``We identified all the areas where the Lagos State plans to develop either residential, commercial, social activities that that are going to generate trips or traffic.

``We have come to realise that if we don’t plan with the land use we are just going to be shooting ourselves in the foot.

``That has given us opportunity to come up with a strategic transport master plan for Lagos.’’