Sylvester Keshinro (RTEAN, Tin Can Chapter)
It is good as the distinguished senators came now and saw what is on ground, it is no longer an ordinary information to them, they have seen what is on ground now and seeing it, they need to rescue the situation, they had no time to know that? the whole of Apapa local government, Ajeromi, Ijora and Amuwo odofin local government are all on gun powder because if anything happens here with the tank farms, all these local governments will perish. This is why they need to put it in their inner mind that they need to relocate all these tank farms to Badagry area or Epe area, after locating them, there should be some kilometers where they should not allow residents to be, life is more important than even all these gridlock we are experiencing. I know that the coming of the Senators is good because we are all expecting change.
Gani Adeola (PRO, PTML Chapter of ANLCA)
If the Senators are not professionals, I don't think they can change anything, when you are talking about the gridlock, you are mentioning one out of the many problems in the maritime sector, if these people are not professionals, nothing good will come out of their visits. The Senators came but they did not even touch where the major problems of the road is, they turned back at Tin Can 2nd gate, meanwhile the major problem of the road starts from 2nd gate to 1st gate, there is no drainage on the roads, we are in the dry season now and yet nothing is going on, they are only patching the road, this is the road that heavy equipment pass through every day. The Senators supposed to show some level of seriousness by treking from 1st gate to 2nd gate at Tin Can port so they would see the problem, it is not a matter of seating inside a full air-conditioned bus and driving roung the port, the roads needs expansion and drainage.
Isiaka Olalere (Haulage Expert)
I believe the coming of the senators can only make meaning impact if they implement the write-ups that people submitted to them, they can check it, collate it and everyone who can make it to work should come together, by so doing it will give us what we want. The issue of the bad roads in Apapa and the attendant traffic gridlock has been a long term problem and it will be good for everybody to support whatever mettod they want to use to make sure that the place is free for everyone, government have been going in a wrong direction by not carrying? those who are supposed to be carried along. We submitted our position paper to the senators and we hope they look at it.
Prince Ade Adeyemi (Clearing Agent)
The senators coming to Lagos on issues of the traffic gridlock, if they are sincere, they could fix the roads in less than 90days, all they need to do is go back to their drawing board and see what could be done to make the road solid so that it could be motorable for the trailers, the goods going in and out of Apapa, the bad roads have caused a lot of damage and debt to many importers and freight forwarders. I would love the Senators to come to Lagos again and have a long distance trek from Liverpool down to Coconut bridge and see what? the masses are passing through.
Abdullahi Inua ( NARTO )
I don't think their coming to the port access roads will make any difference because those who suppose to give the actual fact of the obstacles, causes and solutions were not carried along during the visit of the senators. You will agree with me that transportation in the ports does not start and end in the ports alone, therefore, for failing to carry the transport unions and associations along by the senators indicates that they are not ready to find solution on the port access roads and Apapa in general. Without carrying the transporters along, it will be difficult to get the actual solution of the gridlock and the way out.
Chris Okeho (Stakeholder)
Before the visit by the senators , we all know that Lagos State Government was trying to handle the situation but couldn't do much in that regard. But since we have both APC in the centre and in the state, maybe there will be a way of finding a permanent solution to the gridlock in Apapa. The senators visit to Lagos is commendable and I believe since we are in the era of change I know there will be something positive this time around.
Godwin Ikeji (RTEAN KLT)
If any meaningful action should be taken by the senators, I think the right people to meet are people who are on ground. Since the senators were able to visit Tin Can Island access road, it is laudable and I believe they have seen it with their eyes and I hope they will do something about it immediately. I will also love to remind everybody in governance that without fixing the rail line and fix the two ports access roads, there is nothing we can achieve.? Unless we close down the ports completely there is no way the problem of the gridlock can be address even though the President himself visit the ports. We need to develop our infrastructures for optimal transport operations in the country.
Comrade Julius Efokpor (Merchant Navy)
It appears that the senators are very serious about the situation of the roads linking the ports and that is why they choose to come to Lagos and see for themselves. But it is easy to come and visit but difficult to be pragmatic on the situation on ground, so we expect something positive from them since they have seen, observed and experienced during the visit.
Their experience must be taken seriously and they must make decisions that will benefit Nigerians.
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