Apapa gridlock: Why inland waterways is not considered alternative to haulage
The ongoing frustrations faced by cargo owners using Apapa port access roads to move their goods in and out of the ports have raised issued on the need for alternative mode of transportation.
Considering the absence of rail system which can be said to be under reconstruction, the next alternative could be inland waterways.
However, the Lagos State Area Manager of the National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA), Mr. Muazu Sambo said except for the usual routine of ferrying passengers by boat from the CMS to Apapa, there were no plans to deploy the inland waterways as alternative routes for ferrying cargoes to and from Apapa.
This development therefore opens up the issue of positioning the inland waterways to and fro the seaports for use especially in times of major works on port access roads.
A shipper who spoke to our correspondent in Apapa port said “Since the construction of both Apapa and Tincan ports, the need for the development of inland waterway usage to move goods have not been factored in by any government in Nigeria”.
“During the colonial era when the Apapa port was built, railway played a very strategic roll until the system collapsed following the development of Lagos metropolitan highways during the Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo military administration.
The shipper who did not want his name in prints said “It will be fine for government to think how it will redevelop inland especially from the seaports of Lagos so that cargos can be moved either via roads or rail or inland waterways.
The Apapa road repair, entails closing one part of the narrow stretch, has worsened the traffic situation along the Apapa-Ijora road as well as complicating cargo evacuation.
Stakeholders say that the delays in cargo evacuation have resulted in escalating costs because of high demurrage and other charges.
Investigations by Business Hilights discovered that trucks spend up to five days to exit Apapa.
