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L-R Senator Isiaka
Adeleke; Senator Clifford A.M. Ordia; Senator Ighoyota Amori (Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport),Managing Director ,Nigerian Ports Authority,Malam Habib Abdullahi; Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani (Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport ) and Barr.Hassan Bello, Executive Sectary Nigerian Shippers’ Council in a group photograph at the Stakeholders dialogue |
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi has
said that the provision of adequate rail lines connecting the ports with major
cities in Nigeria remains a major panacea to the perennial gridlock problem in
Apapa area of Lagos State.
In a statement on Wednesday in Lagos by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the NPA, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, the managing director made the assertion while speaking at a stakeholder’s forum with the Senate
Committee on Marine, held at the Eko Hotels and suites Victoria Island, Lagos
on Monday.
Committee on Marine, held at the Eko Hotels and suites Victoria Island, Lagos
on Monday.
He
said the NPA was the most affected organisation in the Industry and therefore, was
eager to see that permanent solution was proffered to the problem.
said the NPA was the most affected organisation in the Industry and therefore, was
eager to see that permanent solution was proffered to the problem.
The
Managing Director recalled that the rail lines which used to convey cargoes
from the ports to other parts of the country no longer functioned, adding that
the resuscitation of the services would further reduce the hardship being faced
by commuters and other stakeholders.
Managing Director recalled that the rail lines which used to convey cargoes
from the ports to other parts of the country no longer functioned, adding that
the resuscitation of the services would further reduce the hardship being faced
by commuters and other stakeholders.
According
to him, transportation of petroleum products by rail from the ports to the
North, particularly Kano, which he witnessed as a youth no longer existed and
therefore called on the relevant Authorities to rise up to the challenge.
to him, transportation of petroleum products by rail from the ports to the
North, particularly Kano, which he witnessed as a youth no longer existed and
therefore called on the relevant Authorities to rise up to the challenge.
While
pledging the NPA’s readiness to complement efforts of the other agencies whose responsibilities it
is to provide the needed facilities, he suggested that petroleum products be piped from the ports to other destinations
if the pipelines were also made right.
pledging the NPA’s readiness to complement efforts of the other agencies whose responsibilities it
is to provide the needed facilities, he suggested that petroleum products be piped from the ports to other destinations
if the pipelines were also made right.
Earlier,
the Chairman of the committee and former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator
Yerima Ahmed Sani, said the committee embarked on the exercise as a result of
the resolutions passed by the Senate expressing concern over the gridlock.
the Chairman of the committee and former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator
Yerima Ahmed Sani, said the committee embarked on the exercise as a result of
the resolutions passed by the Senate expressing concern over the gridlock.
He said the committee would not leave any
stone unturned in ensuring that the problem of gridlock in Apapa was solved.
stone unturned in ensuring that the problem of gridlock in Apapa was solved.
Having gone on inspection tour of the 400 capacity truck bay opposite Tin Can
Island second gate, the Chairman added that the sum of N1.5 billion which the
government had yet to pay the contractor was said to be the cause of the delay
in the completion of the project.
He, however, said that the appropriate agency
had been contacted to bring forward the matter for settlement.
had been contacted to bring forward the matter for settlement.
Sani called on all stakeholders to come up
with suggestions on how best to combat the menace, pointing out that whatever
affected the efficiency of the port operations affected the nation’s economy.
with suggestions on how best to combat the menace, pointing out that whatever
affected the efficiency of the port operations affected the nation’s economy.
Highlights
of the meeting were presentations by various stakeholders which include the
Nigerian maritime Administration and Safety Agency, [NIMASA] Nigerian Ports
Authority[NPA], the Nigerian Shippers’ Council,[NSC], Nigerian Navy, The
Police, Federal Ministry of Works, the Association of Maritime Trucks
Owners[AMATO]amongst others.
of the meeting were presentations by various stakeholders which include the
Nigerian maritime Administration and Safety Agency, [NIMASA] Nigerian Ports
Authority[NPA], the Nigerian Shippers’ Council,[NSC], Nigerian Navy, The
Police, Federal Ministry of Works, the Association of Maritime Trucks
Owners[AMATO]amongst others.
In
his comment, the Acting Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mallam Haruna Jauro among other opinions, said the
problem was enormous to the extent that
workers of the organisation sometimes did not go back home after the day’s job.
his comment, the Acting Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mallam Haruna Jauro among other opinions, said the
problem was enormous to the extent that
workers of the organisation sometimes did not go back home after the day’s job.
Present at the occasion were representatives of
the Inspector General of Police, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Fatai
Owoseni; Chairman Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Chief Remi Ogungbemi
and the Commandant, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), AIG
Chris Olakpe (Rtd.).
