The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO)
has suggested that the relocation of trucks to their parks, garages or the
trade fair complex would solve the perennial problem of gridlock.
has suggested that the relocation of trucks to their parks, garages or the
trade fair complex would solve the perennial problem of gridlock.
The Chairman of the association, Chief Remi
Ogungbemi, made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) in Lagos.
Ogungbemi, made the suggestion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) in Lagos.
He said the initiative would ease the problem of trucks
blocking the roads and leaving other motorists to suffer long hours in traffic
jam.
blocking the roads and leaving other motorists to suffer long hours in traffic
jam.
“My ultimate goal is to achieve sanity and orderly
movement of trucks in ports operation.
movement of trucks in ports operation.
“I suggest that all trucks on the ports access
roads should relocate to their parks or garage.
roads should relocate to their parks or garage.
“Anyone without garage should go to the trade fair
complex, which is available as park for them,” Ogungbemi said.
complex, which is available as park for them,” Ogungbemi said.
He said that while such relocation would be
ongoing, the system could be perfected with the commencement of an electronic call-up
system for the trucks.
ongoing, the system could be perfected with the commencement of an electronic call-up
system for the trucks.
He said in that vein, a synergy would be necessary
among the Lagos State Government, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
among the Lagos State Government, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
“This is when we need a synergy among the critical
stakeholders; the state government, the NPA and the shippers’ council which is
the economic regulator.
stakeholders; the state government, the NPA and the shippers’ council which is
the economic regulator.
“We have been in talks with the NPA on how to get a
truck park that can hold these trucks while they wait for their turns to get
into the ports.
truck park that can hold these trucks while they wait for their turns to get
into the ports.
“I am sure that a lot of benefits await all parties
concerned if it works out well,” Ogungbemi said.
concerned if it works out well,” Ogungbemi said.
NAN reports that the gridlock, particularly on the
port access areas, resurfaced when the trucks returned to work after a 10-day
strike.
port access areas, resurfaced when the trucks returned to work after a 10-day
strike.
Efforts of the taskforce on traffic management
within the port city, however, helped to ensure that the trucks left a lane
free for other motorists.
within the port city, however, helped to ensure that the trucks left a lane
free for other motorists.
NAN also reports that the strategy helped to
maintain a level of sanity within the Apapa area, but caused a long stretch of
gridlock along the Ikorodu expressway between Monday and Wednesday.
maintain a level of sanity within the Apapa area, but caused a long stretch of
gridlock along the Ikorodu expressway between Monday and Wednesday.
