DEADLOCK ON HERBERT MACAULAY WAY

THE TRAFFIC SITUATION ON HERBERT MACAULAY WAYThe infuriating traffic usually experienced on the popular Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, is giving many motorists and pedestrians cause forconcern. Every day, residents of the mainland that commute to theIsland are stumped by the traffic congestion that stalls theirmovement at night.For years, two main institutions, one public and the other private,have greatly contributed to this problem by endangering the lives ofpeoplethat use this popular road. They are the Adekunle Police Station andSTACO Assurance Plc.Together, they have combined to deny motorists free use of theroad that leads to the Third Mainland bridge. This is in spite of the factthat the Nigerian Police Force claims to "Serve and Protect" the Nigeriancitizenry while STACO Plc is a multimillion dollar insurance company thatwas just listed on the Nigerian Stock exchange and posted a profit after taxof 491.5 million naira.Any first time visitor to the Adekunke intersection at Yaba willmarvel at the level of insensitivity shown by these institutions.Every day, they effectively take over half of the highway by parkingcars indiscriminately. While the police use the road as a place todump damaged and impounded vehicles, STACO Assurance Plc uses it as aprivate car park for its impressive fleet of cars.While the Nigerian Police Force has a reputation for gross inefficiency, corruption and under-performance, it is absurd that apublicly-quoted company that professes good corporate governanceshould take a cue from the NPF and brazenly put the lives of ordinaryindividuals at risk.The amazing thing is that STACO Plc is not the only firm that has anoffice on the busy Herbert Macaulay Way. DiamondBank, IntercontinentalBank, GTBank and other blue-chip firms have branches there. However,STACO is the only public firm that dos not keep its cars off thehighway. All the other firms ensure that their car parks do not extendinto the road or cause a public nuisance.STACO, on the other hand, prefers to have its main office on a plot ofland that is too small for the purposes it was meant for. In anycivilised country, the Yaba Mainland local Government Authoritieswould have put a stop to this behaviour but the word on the street isthat the company has settled the big local government officials.The DPO of the Yaba Police Station should also ensure that his stationstops abusing the highway and enable residents move freely along the highway. If the companies like STACO Plc and the NPF can change theirways, it will surely improve the traffic situation in Yaba Mainland.