Lagosians who ply the two major access roads into Lagos port and who have had to contend with debilitating traffic as result of the call-off of the strike earlier embarked upon by truck drivers may enjoy no respite, even as work resumes today.
This is because the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has said that unless the Lagos State Government provides the necessary infrastructures such as holding bays for trucks, the traffic gridlock will continue to be a problem on the state highways and the ports access roads.
Lagosians who ply the two major access roads into Lagos port and who have had to contend with debilitating traffic as result of the call-off of the strike earlier embarked upon by truck drivers may enjoy no respite, even as work resumes today.
This is because the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has said that unless the Lagos State Government provides the necessary infrastructures such as holding bays for trucks, the traffic gridlock will continue to be a problem on the state highways and the ports access roads.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that motorists had a herculean task approaching Lagos ports last week when truck drivers took over the Apapa end of the Apapa –Oshodi expressway and the Ikorodu road for days, in what their associations described as being caught in the rush to beat the 9pm to 6 am deadline given them by the Lagos state government.
But, Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi said while speaking on our sister platform, Shipping Position Live on Star FM 101.5 in Lagos last Friday that there gridlock caused by the trucks may not abate.
Ogungbemi noted that current traffic gridlock which reared its head on Lagos roads last Monday was as a result of the backlog that emanated from the withdrawal of service by truckers, he said that all hands must be on deck to resolve all issues causing the lingering gridlock in the ports environment and the state highways.
The AMATO Chairman further accused all maritime industry stakeholders as the cause of the gridlock, even as he stressed the need for everyone to be part of the solution to the problems surrounding traffic congestion.
"Necessary infrastructures need to be put in place to address the traffic gridlock because there is limit to what the law can do"
"The law can only thrive when there is necessary infrastructures in place, for example the roads we are using for over 40 years are still the same, without repairs"
"There is need to put structures in place, for example truck terminals where truck will park"
When asked if the face-off between truck owners and the Lagos State government is over , the AMATO boss stated that “the Lagos State government only relaxed the law, not that they cancelled it"
"The law still exists but because of the situation on ground the state government made a pronouncement that made them to relax the law"
"All I know is that if the law is fully implemented, it is not going to be of good interest of the economy, safety of lives and properties will also be at risk"
"There is no how it is not going to have a negative effect on the economy as witnessed in the last 10 days when the strike was on”, he added.
According to him, the trucks are always exposed to attacks by hoodlums and there must be terminals in place where the trucks can park before they are called up into the ports.
He confirmed that the truck driver are always stressed up, angry and bitter as a result of parking their trucks on the roads for several hours and even days away from the ports
Ogungbemi however suggested that the relocation of trucks to their parks, garages or to the Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos Badagry expressway would solve the perennial problem of gridlock.
He said the initiative would ease the problem of trucks 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.
“I suggest that all trucks on the ports access 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.
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.
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).
“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.
“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.
“I am sure that a lot of benefits await all parties concerned if it works out well,” Ogungbemi said.
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