The Federal Government yesterday directed truck drivers blocking roads in Apapa to vacate within seven days, to give way for the commencement of reconstruction work on Wharf Road.
The government also appealed to telecoms service providers and other service suppliers to immediately relocate their service cables on the Right of Way (RoW) of the project, for work to begin.
The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos; Mr Godwin Eke, gave the directives at a meeting with stakeholders at the ministry’s office in Lagos.
The stakeholders present at the meeting included representatives of the telecoms service providers, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), transport unions, port operators, shippers unions and AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, an arm of the Dangote Group.
Eke, after extensive deliberations with stakeholders, ordered that the tankers should immediately vacate the roads, while telecoms service providers should urgently relocate their cables from the RoW.
He stated that: “We need to do something urgently to ensure the smooth take-off of the project.
“When the project starts, we will not be able to wait for companies to relocate utility services. So I am appealing to all stakeholders to act fast, in the interest of us all.
“Leave the road so that this contractor (AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd) can begin excavation on site”.
Eke also scheduled another meeting with the telecoms service providers and traffic management agencies for next Wednesday, June 28, on site, to map out strategies for urgent relocation of their service cables and traffic control.
The stakeholders agreed that the site should be made accessible for the contractor on the project, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, an arm of the Dangote Group, to begin work.
The stakeholders also noted that some of the roads, which include Wharf Road and Creek Road, were already being handled by the ministry and that stakeholders should play their part to ensure that the project is completed on schedule.
Some stakeholders accused service providers of frustrating previous projects in Lagos by ignoring calls for the relocation of service cables, thereby causing delays.
They therefore agreed that a timeline be set, after which service providers who ignore the deadline would bear the consequences of their inaction, as work must start on time.
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