Apapa Gridlock: Shipping Stakeholders, Residents Seek Buhari’s Intervention
Among the expectations of shipping industry stakeholders and residents of Apapa, Lagos from the incoming administration is the urgent intervention of the Presidentelect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), in tackling the problem of Apapa gridlock, writ
As the government of President Goodluck Jonathan prepares to hand over power come May 29, maritime industry stakeholders are of the view that the right time has come for the federal government to address the nightmare being suffered by residents, businessmen, traders and workers for over a decade in Apapa and Tin Can Ports roads. Recalling that the outgoing government failed totally to address the problem after several efforts, industry stakeholders and residents said that their hopes rest on the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to fix the problem.
Apapa has for the past decade become a dreaded area because of the worsening traffic situation. It is one area that many would not wish to have anything to do with as a result of the frightening traffic caused by bad roads. Sadly, it houses the nation’s premier port, Apapa Port, and Tin Can Port. Many government officials who had functions to attend in the area at one time or the other have had to struggle to make their way in and out of the area using security men and siren-blaring pilot vehicles to clear their path. It is a place many would swear never to visit again after the first experience. Yet, the area is the location of the premier port of Apapa which is a revenue spinner to both government and many Nigerian businesses. And because it is an important place of business and also residence, many have no choice than to continue to groan under the weight of the traffic problem. The Ports and National Economy The premier port of Apapa opened for business between 1955 and early ‘60s. Built by the colonial masters, it has played host to many businesses till date. From the oil boom days till date, the seaport has been a major factor in terms of contribution to the national economy. It remains one major seaport in the country. It is the biggest and also contributes more in terms of revenue generation. The premier port gave birth to the Tin Can Island port in the early ‘70s when the need to establish additional port arose owing to increase in imports. But the two major ports which were concessioned in 2006 are currently suffering from congestions. The spaces in the ports have become smaller compared to the volume of trade being handled on daily basis. Roads, Trucks, Tankers For over 10 years, roads leading to Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports have remained very bad. The worst is the road leading to Tin Can Island port from Mile 2. The contractor handling the road have completed part of the road from Mile 2 area up till Coconut. But the road from there up till Tin Can First Gate, Second Gate and into Apapa has remained in a bad state, leading to containers falling off trucks on regular basis. The road has been taken over by truck drivers going into either Apapa, Tin Can First or Second gates. Both sides of the road are always occupied even in late hours of the night. Most of the trucks are either parked or trying to gain entrance into the ports. This scenario has affected companies doing business around the area whose entrance to the offices are blocked by trucks and tankers going to the tank farms or the port. Because of the situation in Tin Can Island road, many vehicles from Mile 2 and other parts of the Mainland have been forced to use the only road from Ijora axis to gain entrance into the premier port. Other motorists who work inside the Tin Can Port have had to ensure that they leave their houses before 5 am to be able to gain entrance into the offices before 6.30 am. The situation is worse from 4pm till late in the night. It is such that many who take the safer road through Ijora axis could be on the road for three hours before getting to their offices. And each time it rains, those who do not leave before 4pm may have to sleep in their offices. FG, Lagos Efforts Worried about the Apapa gridlock and the effect on the national economy, both the federal government and the Lagos State Government made various efforts to address the problem. But all their attempts failed, and the gridlock has even worsened. The federal government raised a Presidential Task Force on road which was under the supervision of the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, to find a solution to the gridlock. Members of the Task Force, including the Finance minister, visited Governor Babatunde Fashola for a team work to address the problem but this did not seem to have worked. There was a combined team of traffic officers from the Lagos State Government, Police Officers and officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), but nothing worked, as trucks still block roads and people continued to spend hours before getting to Apapa or leaving the area during the peak period. Each effort would seem as if the problem had been resolved only to worsen again. Looking on to Buhari Industry stakeholders who spoke on the issue said that the Buhari-led government should take the issue seriously bearing in mind the economic importance of the ports to the national economy and find a lasting solution. With dwindling oil revenue, the importance of the seaports cannot be over-emphasised, a maritime lawyer, Mr Emma Ofomata, said. He urged Buhari to save the businessmen, workers, residents and others the pains they go through as a result of the gridlock. He said that what is interesting is the fact that both the national government and the Lagos state government were now in one political party, adding that they should team up and address the road issue. Similarly, founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, who equally spoke on the issue also called on the president-elect to pay attention to rehabilitating and opening up the roads leading to Apapa and Tin Can Island ports to address the perennial gridlock. Noting that the problem has impacted negatively on cargo turnaround time, he said it may persist until the roads were fixed.
Aniebonam said, “This is the gateway to the economy. So the changes we expect is that the road should be open. Why should the road be that bad? We don’t need this type of tiny road between Ijora and Apapa. The government has what it takes to break up the road to open up the axis and compensate those living there. That is what government can do especially when it is being done for public interest”. Similarly, a resident and Managing Director of Stallion Stevedores Limited, Alhaji Auwulu Ilu, also called on the president-elect to come to the rescue of businesses, residents and workers in Apapa by fixing the roads. Ilu argued that once the roads leading to the ports are fixed, it will bring an end to the perennial gridlock. Truck Terminal and Tank Farms One of the recommendations by stakeholders to address the gridlock is to relocate the tank farms out of Apapa and also build a truck terminal for all trucks operating in the ports outside the area. Relocating the tank farms, many said, will help free the residents and business of the danger posed by the presence of the tank farms. Besides, it is argued that it will also reduce the number of tankers queuing up to load fuel, a development that has become a menace in the area.
Chairman of the Truck Owners Association, Chief Remi Ogungbemi recently said that Apapa gridlock can be addressed through the establishment of a truck terminal for trucks operating in the ports. Ogungbemi said that his association has identified a place where truck terminal could be built outside the port, and said the federal government can assist financially in acquiring the property which will be used as a truck terminal.