LCCI Urges FG to Fix Apapa Port Access Roads

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has expressed concern over the deplorable state of access roads to all the ports in Nigeria.

However, given the strategic importance of the Lagos ports in the Nigerian economy, the chamber has called for an urgent response by the government to fix the access roads to the Lagos ports.

The LCCI stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its council meeting in Lagos recently.

Lagos ports account for about 70 per cent of the total revenue generation from import duties in the country.

“The pace of cargo evacuation is being affected by the state of the roads. This in turn results in high demurrage charges, high rental costs by the terminal operators and high cost of freight,” the LCCI added. But the council commended various policy measures put in place to improve the business environment. The meeting noted and applauded the Executive Orders and the acts on the movable collateral and credit registry. It noted that the initiatives would create the right environment for business and boost investors’ confidence.

The LCCI council also applauded the National Assembly on the efforts at providing enabling legislations to boost the inflows of private sector capital to complement the capital budget spending of the government especially on infrastructure.

“Council noted the recent Business Environment forum between the National Assembly and the private sector on legislations that would boost private investment in the economy.

“Council commended the progress made in the fight against terror. Many internally displaced persons are now returning to their communities,” it added.

Council however expressed concern over the escalating security problems perpetrated by the herdsmen across the country. It urged the security agencies to step up their vigilance and live up to their mandate of protecting lives and property across the country.

The meeting noted that activities of the herdsmen are already taking a toll on agricultural activities in the country.