Dangote, Flour Mill, APMT To Flag-Off Wharf Road Construction July 2016  

‎The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured that the construction of the Wharf Road leading to the Apapa port will begin by July 2016.
Initially, Messrs Dangote Group had indicated interest to solely construct the road for the Federal Government in return for tax rebate, but fresh indications emerged last week that two other financiers; APM Terminals, and Flour Mills Nigeria Limited would also be involved in the construction.
Speaking exclusively with Shipping Position ‎Daily last week, General Manager Western Ports of NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi ‎said the construction work is expected to begin by last week of July 2016 or early August 2016.
He spoke with our correspondent at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting conveyed by the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing in collaboration with the NPA at the NPA Western Ports conference room in Apapa.
Ajayi said that the three companies have been directed to write a letter of intent to the Federal Government about their plans to construct the road and for their contractors to provide an up-to- date traffic data and drainage design which will be adopted ‎as a model to construct the road.
The NPA General Manager assured that when the Wharf Road Construction Project which is expected to start from the foot of Apapa Bridge up to the port gate‎, is completed, stakeholders and motorist will heave a sigh of relieve.
"This is good news to the port community, they have suffered a lot of deprivation on this road, containers have fallen and cargoes have been destroyed, so construction of the road should be good news to companies along the Apapa corridor"
"The stakeholders and financiers; Messers Dangote, Floor Mills and APMT, are expected to have a meeting among themselves and come up with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and also write a letter of intent to the government"
"‎By the time the contractors bring the final design of the road, members of the public will be informed and sensitized on the alternative routes available and the road diversions", Ajayi said.
‎He however regretted the low turn-out of expected stakeholders at the meeting. He said owners of infrastructures like PHCN, Gas Link, Water Corporation, Telephone network providers were expected to attend the meeting because their underground facilities will be affected by the project.
‎"Only few of the stakeholders turned up for this meeting and we have decided to take a step further by writing them individually and also contact them physically where possible" Ajayi said.
Speaking earlier at the meeting, representative of Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works Power and Housing, Engr. Mrs O. Osake informed that the cost of relocation of facilities on the project will be borne by owners of such facilities as government does not have provision for such.
Also speaking, former Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa advised on the need to carry everyone along in subsequent meetings before the construction works begin.