Ambode calls on federal government to develop other sea ports to help ease Apapa gridlock

LAGOS State's Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has challenged the federal government to develop other seaports in the country saying it is desperately needed to ease the congestion that has chokes Apapa daily.

Nigeria's largest seaport is in the Lagos suburb of Apapa, which is home to both a bulk cargo and container port. However, because of the volume of cargo that comes into the port, the area is always packed with lorries and trailers, leading to constant damage to the road and creating endless traffic jams.

In the past, Nigeria has looked at developing other ports in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states but the cost of such projects has been prohibitive. Apart from the fact that none of these states has a natural harbour like Lagos, they also require dredging, which investors are reluctant to commit to.

Speaking about the development yesterday at Iberekodo, Ibeju-Lekki, Governor Ambode said the Apapa road had been in a bad state for too long. He added that the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will begin in two weeks time to ease the situation.

According to the governor, traffic has improved in the axis over the last one week compared with what it was some few weeks ago. However, he added that the gridlock has become perennial, making going and coming to and from Apapa pathetic.

Governor Ambode added: “But the challenge is to give a permanent solution and in that reason, the president has directed the vice president to visit Lagos and provide a permanent solution. It would be very unfair to Lagosians if I don’t talk about issues relating to traffic management and integrated transport management most especially what we have witnessed in the last one week in Apapa but again I would like to tell Lagosians that every stakeholder that is relevant to resolving the Apapa crisis, we have gone to work and you can see that there is a major improvement.

“We are grateful to the president for his intervention and we believe that every layer of government should collaborate to resolve the crisis but we all must know that the Apapa crisis is more than traffic issue. That is where all states depend on for revenue through Customs because the revenue is shared at the Federation Account Allocation Committee, so if anything goes wrong in the port, whatever they get from the place could reduce. It is a national issue and it must be addressed as same immediately.

In addition, the governor lamented the fact that Nigeria still uses trucks to lift petroleum products from Apapa to other parts of the country. He added that as it is now, other ports in Nigeria must begin to work immediately to decongest the gridlock in Lagos.

Governor Ambode called on the minister of state of petroleum and the Department of Petroleum Resources work towards reviving pipelines to lift crude from Apapa. On his plan for Ibeju Lekki, Governor Ambode said the construction of the Epe Airport and the reconstruction of the coastal road were on course, adding that the dualisation of the Eleko Junction to the T-Junction will begin in January.

In addition, the governor promised to complete the 27 network of roads in Ojokoro and Ayinke House, among others before the next quarter. He also directed the recruitment of 1,000 teachers adding that more would be recruited as the need arises.