Bring order to Apapa roads

The APAPA roads have once more come into the public eye. The system linking Nigeria's most active port region has re-emerged in discussi...

The APAPA roads have once more come into the public eye. The system linking Nigeria's most active port region has re-emerged in discussions, even though federal, state, and local authorities continue to work on keeping it passable.

A new report published in Vanguard has sounded the warning about a return of traffic congestion in this vital route, after the failure of the electronic truck scheduling system.

This advancement has raised worries among operators and involved parties, who allege that ticket sellers and security staff stationed at the Nigerian Ports Authority sites are engaging in illegal activities and demanding bribes.

The traffic jam that has halted movement on the Ijora–Apapa access roads has caused increased frustration among port users and companies, who caution that the disorderly condition is reversing years of efforts by both the federal and Lagos State governments to bring stability to the region.

Initially designed to improve the flow of trucks and reduce congestion, the electronic call-up system has unexpectedly sparked debate. Parties involved allege that the platform has been undermined, with "priority access" being illegally offered to those who pay the most.

The system failure has led to extended lines of trucks, exacerbated by continuous road repair activities.

In the meantime, individuals in reflective vests are allegedly demanding payments ranging from N5,000 to N20,000 from truck drivers at various checkpoints to allow entry into the port.

It is unreasonable that this recruitment system, created to enhance efficiency, has instead turned into a hub for corruption and caused financial harm to genuine port operators.

Unfortunately, the NPA and private port operators have not been able to address those causing these preventable interruptions.

This hallway experienced persistent congestion for many years, causing commercial and residential investors to leave. It is reported that the three assigned truck terminals—LillyPond, ABAT, and Ijora-Iganmu—are plagued by illegal activities.

The Maritime Truck Owners' Association has condemned the claimed "discriminatory" recruitment procedure, arguing that it undermines law-abiding truckers while benefiting others, resulting in substantial financial damage.

The Lagos State Government has blamed the NPA for letting conditions worsen, ignoring the sale of tickets via unofficial means rather than through official parks.

In a recent move, the NPA temporarily halted truck activities from pre-gate zones into the Lagos Port Complex in order to address cargo delays as a temporary solution to the traffic congestion.

As per a survey conducted by the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association, Nigeria suffers losses of approximately N3.06 trillion each year from non-oil exports and roughly N2.5 trillion in income across different industries, all attributed to the Apapa traffic congestion.

For many years, the ongoing traffic jams at the Lagos Port Complex have harmed businesses and caused significant financial damage to Nigeria's economy.

The daily expense of the gridlock surpasses N20 billion, caused by bad road conditions, lack of truck parking areas, and the increase of storage facilities along the route.

As a result, the ports have faced cargo delays extending up to 21 days, with trucks stuck on connecting roads and bridges for as many as 10 days.

Importers often redirect shipments to nearby West African ports in Benin, Togo, Ghana, and even Ivory Coast to escape significant demurrage, terminal costs, and storage expenses that amount to billions each day.

In response to these issues, the NPA and Truck Transit Parks Limited together launched the electronic call-up system, called Ètò. This digital platform for truck scheduling and access control is designed to improve the movement of vehicles in and out of Nigerian ports.

Electronic security systems are in place at every terminal entry point, and working together with the Lagos State Government, approximately 29 truck terminals have been established throughout Lagos.

It is crucial for the Lagos Port Complex and security authorities to quickly remove hustlers and harmful individuals from port zones. Expanding the utilization of various transportation methods such as railways and barges to transport goods out of these areas is also essential.

Every initiative should focus on avoiding a resurgence of previous disorder. Unused containers must not be permitted to occupy the ports, and unauthorized truck activities should remain restricted.

Nigeria cannot risk having its main maritime entry point damaged by these preventable issues.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).