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Committee Member, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa(Middle); the
Committee Vice Chairman, Sen. Clifford Odia(Right), and the Federal Controller of
Works, West, Kuti Adedamola at the event.
Committee Vice Chairman, Sen. Clifford Odia(Right), and the Federal Controller of
Works, West, Kuti Adedamola at the event.
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Towards finding lasting solution to gridlock in Apapa,
the Senate Committee on Works on Friday advocated co-operation of various
government agencies to make port operations easier.
The
committee during an emergency meeting with stakeholders in Lagos as part of its
oversight functions condemned extortion of truck drivers and asked law
enforcement and traffic regulatory agencies to investigate and punish erring
officers.
It
called for a multi sector approach between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) to give waivers to encourage use of other Eastern ports to
decongest Apapa.
called for a multi sector approach between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) to give waivers to encourage use of other Eastern ports to
decongest Apapa.
The
committee appealed to truck driver unions to come together and increase areas
where they could park their trucks while calling on NPA to speed up processes
aimed at restoring order.
committee appealed to truck driver unions to come together and increase areas
where they could park their trucks while calling on NPA to speed up processes
aimed at restoring order.
The
committee summoned the Managing Director of the APM Terminal to appear before
the National Assembly on Wednesday to resolve various concerns raised by
stakeholders against the firm perceived to be part of the problem.
committee summoned the Managing Director of the APM Terminal to appear before
the National Assembly on Wednesday to resolve various concerns raised by
stakeholders against the firm perceived to be part of the problem.
The
committee directed that the Apapa Truck Park under construction be completed
and handed over to NPA for use latest May 2 or May 3 which is Thursday or
Friday next week.
committee directed that the Apapa Truck Park under construction be completed
and handed over to NPA for use latest May 2 or May 3 which is Thursday or
Friday next week.
Sen.
Kabiru Gaya, Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, who led the delegation, said
that in spite of various government interventions, “it is a shame to all of us
in Nigeria that this gridlock should continue.”
Kabiru Gaya, Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, who led the delegation, said
that in spite of various government interventions, “it is a shame to all of us
in Nigeria that this gridlock should continue.”
The
other lawmakers in the team which included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Sen. Clifford
Ordia and Sen. Barnabas Gemade, took turns to interact with various stakeholders
on proffering final solutions to the Apapa gridlock.
other lawmakers in the team which included Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Sen. Clifford
Ordia and Sen. Barnabas Gemade, took turns to interact with various stakeholders
on proffering final solutions to the Apapa gridlock.
After extensive deliberations, Gaya ruled that all
forms of corruption causing the problems be nipped in the bud as the Buhari
administration had zero tolerance for corrupt practices.
forms of corruption causing the problems be nipped in the bud as the Buhari
administration had zero tolerance for corrupt practices.
“We’ll
set up a small committee within the next four days consisting of security
agencies, customs, clearing agents and so on to give us a report within three
days so that we can use that report and also implement that report.
set up a small committee within the next four days consisting of security
agencies, customs, clearing agents and so on to give us a report within three
days so that we can use that report and also implement that report.
“Because
I know that the President, Vice President and everybody is concerned about how
best we can get out of this national embarrassment,” he said.
I know that the President, Vice President and everybody is concerned about how
best we can get out of this national embarrassment,” he said.
He
added that the Federal government was constructing and maintaining roads and
addressing the problems of overstretched infrastructure and called for the
support of the Lagos State Government in patching pot holes.
added that the Federal government was constructing and maintaining roads and
addressing the problems of overstretched infrastructure and called for the
support of the Lagos State Government in patching pot holes.
“The Federal Government is trying to get more temporary
parking spaces for trailers (articulated vehicles), therefore, the Tincan
trailer park is being completed and we have ordered them to commission that
park within the next one week,” he said.
parking spaces for trailers (articulated vehicles), therefore, the Tincan
trailer park is being completed and we have ordered them to commission that
park within the next one week,” he said.
He
stressed the need for LASTMA to join hands with other members of the taskforce
to restore order in Apapa.
stressed the need for LASTMA to join hands with other members of the taskforce
to restore order in Apapa.
The
committee chairman assured that within two weeks the committee was going to
take action if its orders were not enforced to restore sanity in Apapa.
committee chairman assured that within two weeks the committee was going to
take action if its orders were not enforced to restore sanity in Apapa.
Earlier,
Mr Funsho Adebiyi, Director, Highways, South West, lamented indiscriminate
parking of trucks on the bridges in Lagos which he said were not designed for
static loads.
Mr Funsho Adebiyi, Director, Highways, South West, lamented indiscriminate
parking of trucks on the bridges in Lagos which he said were not designed for
static loads.
Adebiyi said that the bridges were
endangered while lamenting other forms of abuses of bridges which included
building under them and other activities that had caused fire that damaged some
bridges.
endangered while lamenting other forms of abuses of bridges which included
building under them and other activities that had caused fire that damaged some
bridges.
He said that there was need for attitudinal change
among Nigerians toward protection of the nation’s road infrastructure.
among Nigerians toward protection of the nation’s road infrastructure.
Stakeholders
at the event included the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety
Corps, Mr Hyginus Omeje, General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Wale Musa, the NPA General
Manager, Security, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, truck drivers unions, truck owners
unions, shipping companies and terminal operators.(NAN)
at the event included the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety
Corps, Mr Hyginus Omeje, General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Wale Musa, the NPA General
Manager, Security, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, truck drivers unions, truck owners
unions, shipping companies and terminal operators.(NAN)
