Respite may have come the way of residents and businesses around Apapa port city as the federal government concludes plans to move cargoes from Apapa Port by rail to Papalanto in Ogun state. This would be done through the narrow gauge after clearance, and the cargoes would be moved to their various destinations.
The plan according to the government is meant to reduce the number of trucks queuing on the already bad Apapa roads, reduce the volume of gridlock and manpower loss on the roads as well as limit the travel time on the Apapa roads which is notorious for heavy traffic. It is of popular opinion that the traffic lockdown in the Apapa axis is a direct result of the challenges faced by operators of the seaport which has made it almost impossible for articulated vehicles and trailers from outside the state to load goods.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi disclosed that the Federal government efforts to use Ebute Metta terminus to solve Lagos lockdown proved abortive as the plan had already been defeated due to the fact that Ebute Metta and its environs are experiencing lockdown even without the cargoes.
This he stated at an event marking the 2017 World Maritime Day celebration with the theme “Connecting Ships, Ports and People” in Lagos on Monday. He claimed that the government’s aim is to reduce the time spent by importers in the ports to clear their consignment because of the deplorable state of the roads.
Also, he asserted that the Lagos- Kano narrow gauge would become operational before the end of December 2017, because the Federal government was determined to move cargo by rail to reduce pressures on the roads.
Photo:
Ships & Ports
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This article was first published on 1st November 2017
adepeju
Adepeju Adenuga is a writer (considering where you are reading this, makes perfect sense). She holds a Masters Degree in Literature in English from the University of Lagos.
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