The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Apapa

  • Stakeholders move to end Apapa gridlock, port congestion

    Stakeholders move to end Apapa gridlock, port congestion

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to tackle traffic gridlock, port congestion and other problems in Apapa and its environs. He made this call at a stakeholders meeting on the ongoing Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project in Lagos, last week.

    The stakeholders at the meeting included the three financiers of the project, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, Flour Mills of Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    Others were National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), among others.

    The stakeholders, after extensive deliberations, agreed to resolve issues of logistics and regulation of truckers and port operations.

    They called on shipping companies to return to the system of using their loading bays and effective call up systems to end port congestions.

    They also  advised AP Molar Multi Terminal (APMT),  whose cargo operations take hours to emulate the operations of Port Terminal Multipurpose Ltd (PTML) who have perfected the act of evacuating cargo within minutes.

    They agreed that emergency interventions should be carried out on the roads around Coconut bus stop area and some other bad portions.

    They resolved to have another inclusive meeting to carry Shippers, government regulatory agencies and other stakeholders who were absent at the gathering along to evolve permanent solutions,

    Fashola advised the stakeholders to organise forums where they could proffer solutions to the problems and make recommendations to government to speed up solutions on various issues.

    The minister stressed the need to put other ports in the country  to use to reduce pressure on the two major ports in Apapa and promised to work with his transport counterpart, Mr Rotimi Amechi,  to involve the rail sector in finding solutions.

    He called for sacrifice on the part of the various stakeholders as the Yuletide season is approaching to ensure speedy solution to all the problems.

    “During this period when everybody is sacrificing something, let us sacrifice, it is an exchange everybody must sacrifice.

    “This is not about us, it is about everybody,” he told stakeholders.

    He explained that procurement process for the Oshodi Tin Can Island road was ongoing.

    Earlier, Fashola had inspected ongoing rehabilitation works at Costain and its environs, which he told journalists was to ensure smooth roads during the festive period.

    Honorary adviser to the Dangote Group, Mr Joseph Makoju said that Dangote was handling and co-funding the Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Makoju said that it was painful that the project was being misunderstood by both the public and a section of the media who make negative remarks against the Dangote Group instead of  commending it for giving back to society.

  • FRSC suggests holding bays as permanent solutions to Apapa gridlock

    FRSC suggests holding bays as permanent solutions to Apapa gridlock

    The Lagos State Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says a permanent solution to the Apapa gridlock is the establishment of holding bays to accommodate trucks and articulated vehicles before loading.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Hyginus Omeje, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, added that this would put an end to the perennial gridlock.

    He said that all owners of tank farms should provide facilities that would accommodate trucks coming into their facilities to load.

    “I think the traffic congestion problem in Apapa will be solved permanently if holding bays can be established to take trucks coming in to load.

    “The stakeholders with owners of tank farms should begin to pay attention to having a holding bay that can contain some trucks before being called in to load,’’ he said.

    Omeje said that government was trying to address the issue by bringing private investors to put up the facilities for the benefit of the residents.

    He said that this was a fundamental issue that was needed to allow free flow of traffic within the corridor.

    “We can have the private sectors coming up with the parks that some of the trucks can easily move in and wait for loading instead of parking along the streets in Apapa, thereby causing traffic.

    “Through the process, the next truck to load in the tank farm will be called through electronic call-up system. This method will reduce the gridlock,’’ he said.

    According to Omeje, the FRSC has partnered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to inspect all trucks coming into the port for business.

    “We have had various meetings with the stakeholders, registered operators and NPA and we told them that it will not be business as usual if their trucks are not roadworthy.

    “Beside that, some of the articulated vehicles are overloaded, thereby causing traffic along the road.

    “We want to ensure that our road transport safety standard schemes are implemented at the ports for every truck coming in to load,‘’ he said. (NAN)

  • Fashola calls for support to end Apapa gridlock

    Fashola calls for support to end Apapa gridlock

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday in Lagos called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to tackle traffick gridlock, port congestion and other problems in Apapa and its environs.

    Fashola made the call at a stakeholders meeting on the ongoing Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project in Surulere.

    The stakeholders at the meeting included the three financiers of the project, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, Flour Mills of Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    Others were National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), among others.

    The stakeholders, after extensive deliberations,  agreed to resolve issues of logistics and regulation of truckers and port operations.

    They called on shipping companies to return to the system of using their loading bays and effective call up systems to end port congestions.

    They also  advised AP Molar Multi Terminal (APMT),  whose cargo operations take hours to emulate the operations of Port Terminal Multipurpose Ltd (PTML) who have perfected the act of evacuating cargo within minutes.

    They agreed that emergency interventions should be carried out on the roads around Coconut bus stop area and some other bad portions.

    They resolved to have another inclusive meeting to carry Shippers, government regulatory agencies and other stakeholders who were absent at the gathering along to evolve permanent solutions,

    Fashola advised the stakeholders to organise forums where they could proffer solution to the problems and make recommendations to government to speed up solutions on various issues.

    The minister stressed the need to put other ports in the country  to use to reduce pressure on the two major ports in Apapa and promised to work with his transport counterpart, Mr Rotimi Amechi,  to involve the rail sector in finding solutions.

    He called for sacrifice on the part of the various stakeholders as the Yuletide season is approaching to ensure speedy solution to all the problems.

    “During this period when everybody is sacrificing something, let us sacrifice, it is an exchange, everybody must sacrifice.

    “This is not about us, it is about everybody,” he told stakeholders.

    He explained that procurement process for the Oshodi Tin Can Island road was ongoing.

    Earlier, Fashola had inspected ongoing rehabilitation works at Costain and its environs, which he told journalists was to ensure smooth roads during the festive period.

    Honorary adviser to the Dangote Group, Mr Joseph Makoju said that Dangote was handling and co-funding the Apapa Wharf Road reconstruction project as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Makoju said that it was painful that the project was being misunderstood by both the public and a section of the media who make negative remarks against the Dangote Group instead of  commending it for giving back to society.

    He explained that the Dangote Group also suffered from the problems of gridlock and other problems caused by port congestions as  it affected their businesses and operations as well.

    He added that the company was ready to tackle all problems that related to the construction raised at the forum and deliver the project within one year.

    “We give our assurances that we will deliver and we need your understanding,” he said.

    Mr Ashif Juma, Managing Director AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, contractors handling the project said that there was massive deployment of men and equipment to site as the rainy season ended adding that by November significant visible progress would be seen in the construction.

    Juma explained that it was not easy to work on old roads because some unexpected problems usually came up in the midst of the project.

    He added that the firm was working closely with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (FMPW$H) on the project and that work tempo would double in November.

    “We will work two shifts seven days a week. We cannot do this work without your help,” he told the other stakeholders.

    The NPA on its part promised to begin enforcement of traffic regulations in port areas which include Oshodi, Babs Aminasaun, Costain and Ijora Olopa road areas,

    NAN reports that Fashola,  on June 17 signed the N4.34 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the reconstruction of the four kilometres Apapa Wharf road with AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd and other companies.

    The project is being funded by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Flour Mills of Nigeria. (NAN).

  • Agro exporters lose $25m to Apapa traffic

    • seek refund of excess charges from APMT

    Traffic congestion along Apapa Ports link roads is costing agro exporters approximately $25 million in losses in productivity, following delay in shipment. Last year, cashew export provided revenue of $253 million to the economy.

    The figure is expected to dip with exporters struggling to access the ports. This is despite the fact that cashew exporters this year increased annual volume meant for export to 170, 000 metric tons from 160,000 tons.

    Publicity Secretary, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr. Sotonye Anga said the farmers have cultivated more land with a view to boosting exports to raise annual earnings. He said this was not going to be possible with traffic challenges.

    Speaking after a news conference in Lagos yesterday, Anga said traffic congestion increased the time each vehicle spends on the road as cargo meant for exports now spend an average of seven days on the road.

    He said exports have   grown in the last two years due to surging demand in United States and Europe but the industry has not got a  boost in terms of improvement in storage and transport facilities.

    President, NCAN, Tola Fasheru said agro exporters  have   suffered wastages of  commodities  due to inadequate cold storage, supply chain infrastructure and  delayed transportation time to Apapa ports.

    Despite the hardship, Faseru  said a  terminal  operator, APMT  has increased its terminal charges.

    He said APMT increased its charges from N4000 to N40,000 for 20 ft. containers, and  N6,000 to N60,000 for a40 ft. containers.

    “This is an  increase of almost 1000 per cent. All the excess collections should be refunded back to exporters.This increase is not supportive of the economic diversification of the Federal Government,” he said.

    Because of the  challenge of getting access to the port, Faseru said an exporter that can ship 1,700 tons of commodities per day when the Apapa port access roads  were in good condition now manages to only ship between 100 to 25 tons of commodities  which he lamented is bad for business. “Our drivers are idling away on Apapa road, waiting in their trucks for as long as seven days to get into the port as against four hours,” he said.

    Faseru urged the government to expedite work on the repairs of the road to prevent  lost time and productivity.

  • LASEMA assures Apapa residents of quick response

    LASEMA assures Apapa residents of quick response

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has assured residents of Apapa and its environs of its readiness to respond to any emergency situation in the area, following the gridlock arising from traffic congestion.

    LASEMA General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu said yesterday at Alausa that the Agency is exploring various possibilities at ensuring quick and adequate response to any form of emergency in the area or any part of the state.

    He said: “The Agency is looking into the possibility of setting up a temporary dispatch point for quick and adequate response to any case of emergency, while the Agency’s bikers have been dispatched for close monitoring and surveillance of the situation for necessary attention when required. The Agency is also looking at other avenues for periodic report in management of any situation in the area.”

    He pledged that the government “is alive to its responsibilities in ensuring adequate safety of life and property” and would not allow any unfortunate incident to occur as a result of the bottleneck.

    Tiamiyu also advised Lagosians especially residents of the area to “remain calm and endeavour to call the 112/767 for any form of emergency.”

  • Apapa gridlocks will soon be over — FRSC

    Apapa gridlocks will soon be over — FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) 6has said that the perennial gridlocks in Apapa area which had spread to other parts of Lagos would soon be a thing of the past.

    Mr Olalekan Morakinyo, FRSC Head of Operation in Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that traffic lock down was as a result of influx of tankers to Apapa ports.

    Morakinyo said that the situation was compounded by the ongoing rehabilitation of roads in Apapa area, adding that the gridlocks would soon be over when the roads were completed.

    According to him, many tankers came to Apapa loading bay without schedule, thus causing the gridlock.

    “It begins from lkorodu road and the Western Avenue axis to Ijora.

    “As soon as the road is completed all the corridors within the axis will experience free flow of traffic,” he said.

    He urged motorists to be patient and obey traffic officials to ease traffic within the short period of the road rehabilitation.

    Mr Semiu Oladele, a tanker driver, told NAN that the bad roads within Apapa area posed great challenges to their operations, resulting in the logjam.

    NAN recalls that stakeholders, comprising traffic authorities, transport unions and port users, on Friday gave the trucks and tankers parking indiscriminately 48 hours to vacate Lagos roads.
    Similarly, the Lagos State Government also on Friday asked trailers to keep away from Lagos roads until the resolution of the traffic logjam.

  • Photo: NPA MD inspecting reconstruction of Apapa road

    Photo: NPA MD inspecting reconstruction of Apapa road

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) Ms Hadiza  Bala Usman on Saturday inspected the reconstruction of Apapa Road by Dangote Group.
    Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala Usman inspecting the reconstruction of Apapa Road by Dangote Group and others today, Saturday, 23 September, 2017 . PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA., MARITIME CORRESPONDENT.
  • Estate agent faces N270,000 fraud charge

    Estate agent faces N270,000 fraud charge

    A self-acclaimed estate agent, Okolin Nma, on Monday appeared before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on a fraud charge against Morry Anakwe, a prospective tenant, amounting to N270,000.

    Nma, 36, a resident of Okito Street, Ajegunle, Lagos, is standing trial on a two- count charge of obtaining under false pretenses and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The police prosecutor, Olusegun Kokoye told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 22 at his residence.

    Kokoye said that the accused obtained N270,000 from the complainant, on the pretext of providing her two-room accommodation in a building he was managing.

    “Nma converted the money to his own personal use and started avoiding the complainant.

    “The complainant said that the accused did not rent any apartment to her and when she demanded for her money, he refused to refund her the amount.

    “When Anakwe realised that the accused was trying to cheat her, she reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section 314 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining under false pretences, while section 287 stipulates three years imprisonment for stealing, if found guilty.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr M.A. Etti, granted the accused bail in the sum of 200,000, with two sureties in like sum.

    The case was adjourned until Oct.19 for mention.

  • Ports: ships with petroleum products expected

    Ports: ships with petroleum products expected

    Twenty six ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos from Sept. 7 to Sept. 23.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

    NPA said that the ships contained buck wheat, bulk corn, bulk sugar, base oil, empty container, bulk maize, frozen fish, bulk salt, petrol and containers laden with goods.

    NAN reports that 10 ships arrived the ports waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, bulk maize, steel products, diesel and petrol.

    NAN reports that 22 other ships are currently at the ports discharging bulk wheat, bulk corn, bulk fertiliser, general cargo, bulk gypsum, bulk sugar, frozen fish, petrol, buthane and crude palm olein. 

  • ‘Apapa infrastructure regeneration ‘ll boost economy’

    ‘Apapa infrastructure regeneration ‘ll boost economy’

    TheFederal Government’s efforts to redevelop infrastructure in Apapa, Lagos State, coupled with private sector involvement to reconstruct a section of the road within the corridor, will boost the economy.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Fashola, made the submission last week while inspecting some projects in Lagos State.

    “There is need for total regeneration of roads and other infrastructure in Apapa, which houses the nation’s major ports, to boost the nation’s economy. We are battling to restore Liverpool Road and the bridge, this road must not collapse; it would shut down the country,” Fashola said.

    He noted that if Liverpool Road, which leads to the Tin Can Island Port, and the Nigeria Ports Authority, and Funsho Williams Road are lost and not kept in proper shape, it would be tantamount to having shut down the nation.

    His ministry, he said, is working on making all roads in Apapa and its environs motorable because of the importance of the axis to the national economy, adding that the roads have been inadequately maintained for about 40 years.

    Fashola, who was on an inspection of the Apapa-Wharf Road reconstruction, said President Muhammadu Buhari was happy with the financiers of the two-kilometre road project: AG Dangote Construction Company, Flour Mills of Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Ports Authority. “President Buhari appreciates the gesture,’’ he said.

    An engineer with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing supervising the road project, Mrs. Korede Keisha, explained that the work would have advanced beyond the present state but for the contractors’ inability to relocate some gas pipes found underneath the road, which were too expensive to move.  Keisha revealed that this development made the contractors to shift the road to about one metre away from the gas pipe.

    A former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation and consultant to AG Dangote Construction Company Limited on traffic management, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, explained that a collaboration on the traffic management plan was helping the firm to surmount gridlock and free the site for construction. He, however, lamented the activities of unorganised port operators, accusing them of causing congestion on the road with their trucks.

    The inspection tour, which began from the National Stadium, Surulere, spanned through Alaka to the Apongbon Bridge, and outer Marina.

    On the Alaka Bridge, Fashola instructed his team of engineers, led by Director, Federal Highways, Southwest, Mr Emmanuel Adeoye, to expedite action on the replacement of vandalised manhole covers. They are also to reconstruct some drainage and unblock drainage channels connecting a major canal in front of the National Theatre, Iganmu to solve flood problem, which is said to be a major cause of the persistent road degeneration in the area.

    He appealed to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Project Manager, Mr Vaknin Harel, whose firm is handling the rehabilitation of Funsho Williams Road up to Ijora Bridge, to hasten work.

    Fashola urged RCC to endeavour to finish the reconstruction work before the next rainy season, considering the fact that the entire stretch of the road sits on swampy land. He also mandated the contractor to replace vandalised bridge railings on the axis with concrete.

    Harel explained that RCC was patching potholes caused by flooding, as well as filling the road with more durable materials to asphalt stage, to make it last longer.

    Inspecting the street lights both under and above the Ijora and Funsho Williams Avenue bridges, the Minister directed his engineers to liaise with the state Rural Electrification, to replace all the lights. “If there are new solar technologies, adopt them. It is a total regeneration of this Apapa area that we want,’’ he said.