Chief Remi Ogungbemi, the Chairman of the Association of Maritime
Truck Owners (AMATO)has bemoaned the concentration of tank farms in Apapa.
Truck Owners (AMATO)has bemoaned the concentration of tank farms in Apapa.
Ogungbemi expressed the view in an interview in Lagos.
He said that the concentration of the tank farms in Apapa had
continued to cause perennial traffic jam within the port corridors and roads
leading to the port.
continued to cause perennial traffic jam within the port corridors and roads
leading to the port.
Ogungbemi said tankers came all over the nation to
Apapa to lift petroleum products, which would have been made easier through
pipes.
Apapa to lift petroleum products, which would have been made easier through
pipes.
“Can you imagine, no other area where they can lift fuel in
Nigeria, is only Apapa.
Nigeria, is only Apapa.
“You will see vehicles, tankers from the North, from the East,
from the West, from everywhere coming to lift fuel.
from the West, from everywhere coming to lift fuel.
“Why not use pipe? So when the ship brings the product, let it be
piped through pipe to somewhere like Ogun State, Ondo State and some areas.
piped through pipe to somewhere like Ogun State, Ondo State and some areas.
“So that the congestion, the concentration, will be
reduced within the port environment.
reduced within the port environment.
“People that are sighting the construction of these
tank farms; they are to be blamed for this problem.
tank farms; they are to be blamed for this problem.
“You know there were places where we were using
before. All those places have been taken away by other business activities and
the port cannot operate without these trucks.
before. All those places have been taken away by other business activities and
the port cannot operate without these trucks.
According to the AMATO chairman, maritime truck owners operating
in the ports will continue to contest for space to park on the roads, while
they are on queue to enter the ports.
in the ports will continue to contest for space to park on the roads, while
they are on queue to enter the ports.
He said this happened because several business concerns
which should not be in Apapa were still there.
which should not be in Apapa were still there.
