NASS, Port users finger official neglect on port access road especially Tincan
Looking for the worst road in Nigeria that is the same time, the most important to national business is no more farfetched as access road to Tincan Island port is the answer. This was the unison submission of both Customs officers and majority of port users in the axis on Thursday.
Earlier on the day, former Chairman of Apapa Local Government, and House Committee member, Ayodeji Joseph has expressed concern over the sorry state of the Tincan Island Port road which has not only deteriorated but has also become a dumpsite.
The House Committee member on Port, Harbours and Waterways has already called on Lagos State Government to clear the refuse around the port area.
Expressing anger on the gigantic heaps of solid wastes lined up along the road to the nation’s gateway during the committee visited to some maritime agencies within the week, Joseph wondered why the Lagos State Government deploy operatives of Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) has deserted the axis, saying the poor state of the roads and indiscriminate parking of containers and trucks along the dual carriageway has written off the formally beautiful expressway.
While decrying the attitude of traders and hawkers trading around the port, he argued that the unregulated activities of food vendors, stall operators and commercial motor cycle operators have contributed immensely to the poor environmental condition of the port area.
But according to him, “the fact remains that the port access roads are bad and no significant thing is being done by the relevant agencies”.
“It is important that the Lagos State Government deploy operatives of Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) to clean up the port areas and the entire Apapa vicinity and enforce environmental laws there.
He narrowly indicted the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), saying “LAWMA’s effort should be complemented by Seaview Properties Limited, a subsidiary of NPA which has a statutory responsibility of keeping the port environment clean”.
Several importers and clearing agents who spoke with Business Hilights at Tincan port Thursday said they have lost hope on the seriousness of the government to resolve the trucking challenge along the key access roads to the port as it has become clear that all relevant agencies have continued to tell lies on their readiness to carry out repairs for more than five years now.
