NPA to end gridlock on seaports’ access roads

Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

Anna Okon

The Nigerian Ports Authority has expressed concerns over the gridlock in Apapa, Lagos, which is hampering access to the Lagos seaports.

The Managing Director, NPA, Ms.  Hadiza Usman, who said this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, however, declared that the authority was working on a plan that would provide a lasting solution to the problem.

She lamented that the poor access roads to Lagos seaports were adversely affecting the delivery of cargoes to importers, thus killing the trade facilitation programme of the government.

The NPA, she said, was not happy that several measures hitherto adopted had not translated into quick cargo movement in and out of the ports.

She assured the stakeholders that a positive action would soon be taken by the NPA to address the problem in the interest of all and the economy.

Usman was quoted in a statement as saying that the quick rehabilitation of the road remained a priority to her team to reposition the ports and salvage the economy.

While receiving the report on traffic decongestion of Apapa, the NPA boss appealed to Messrs Dangote Construction Nigeria Limited and the management of Flour Mills Nigeria Limited that it was time to expedite action to ensure early reconstruction of Wharf Road.

Usman also appealed to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and members of the National Assembly to include the reconstruction of Creek Road linking Tin Can Island Port in the 2017 budget.

She also urged them to see to the quick completion of the trailer park opposite the Tin Can Island Port to keep the trucks away from the major road.

She called for synergy between the government and stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the perennial gridlock on the road.

The NPA boss urged all port users to always subject themselves to the security checks at the gates leading to the ports and warned all unauthorised persons intruding into the ports to stop or face sanctions.

The NPA, she said, would soon introduce measures to make it impossible for those without genuine business to access the ports.