The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) as well as various trucking associations and freight forwarders have expressed support for the Federal Government on the planned partial closure of the Wharf road leading to Apapa port for the next one year to allow for its reconstruction.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the closure was announced last weekend in Lagos during the visit of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing; Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola to Apapa in company of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA); Hadiza Bala Usman.
The reconstruction is to be bankrolled by the NPA, Flour Mill and Dangote.
But, speaking with one of our correspondents in Lagos on Monday, Chairman of South-West Zone of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG); Alhaji Nojeem Korodo said that the road construction is a blessing to residents and all stakeholders in Apapa.
Korodo said although the closure would be challenging, but at the same time, it is a blessing to all the people working and living around Apapa.
Also speaking with our correspondent, spokesperson for the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Lagos Zonal Council of NUPENG; Comrade Tayo Boyeji said that tanker drivers received the news of the road closure in good faith and are ready to bear the inconveniences.
He lamented that due to the condition of the Wharf road and the Apapa-Oshodi expressway, the number of petroleum tankers loaded per day has reduced from 500 trucks to 200 trucks per day.
Comrade Boyeji reiterated that NUPENG members are unperturbed because the road would not be completely closed down, he said there would be diversions here and there and this would cause inconveniences, he however said that the union cannot because of the inconveniences tell government not to repair the road.
"The honourable minister has assured us that the road would be constructed in three phases, the first phase is Wharf road, the second phase is Liverpool linking the Tin Can Island Port while the third phase is Coconut to Apapa-Oshodi expressway. We are taking the Minister for his words. Also the minister has assured that palliative measures on the Coconut axis would commence next week. We would keep on managing the road because this is the situation we all find ourselves"
"You would find out that this morning, there was no traffic at all, we have already informed our members about what is happening including the depot management, for now, everyone would have to bear it the way it is"
"The road has affected us, before now we were loading 500 trucks in a day, but now it has reduced to 200 trucks. But we thank God that there has been no scarcity so far and there won't be any",Boyeji said.
Also speaking with Shipping Position Daily yesterday, General Secretary of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN);Mr. Ifeanyi Ekwunife, said that reconstruction of the Wharf road is a welcome development which stakeholders have long waited for.
He also pleaded with the government to ensure that men and equipment are moved to site immediately to commence construction works.
Also speaking, General Secretary of Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO) Mr. Chiaka Nwaogu, said that the government should ensure that there is an alternative route to access Apapa port during the period of the repair.
"The truth about the matter is that the roads are bad an it has caused a lot of problems to our people and it has to be closed down for a proper repair to be carried out but there should be an alternative route for port users to ply even if it means using palliatives or following one way so that people can still move about their normal work," Nwaogu said.
Also reacting to the road closure Publicity Secretary of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Mr. Stanley Ezenga, commended the government for the initiative.
He urged stakeholders to understand that closing the road partially for the sake of repairs does not mean the ports would be shut down. He urged operators to still go about their normal businesses.
"It is a good thing. Even now that the road is open, it’s bad so if closing it for the sake of repair will bring lasting solution, let it be. If closing it will make the road better, they should do it. We are begging our members that even if they close the road, the ocean is not dried up so cargoes will still be coming into the country so they should be coming to work. I know it will affect us but that is what we need to solve this problem of road once and for all," he said.
On his part, Deputy State Coordinator of National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) Alhaji Abdul Abdullahi said that the repair will come with a lot of inconveniences.
He said "They didn't say they will close the whole road completely. There would be inconveniences when construction work starts because they would block some parts of the road" he said.
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