The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is reluctant to fix the failed sections of the ever-busy Apapa Oshodi expressway between Tin Can Island first and second gates bus stops, in spite of calls by road transport operators.
A haulage group under the aegis of Road Transport Employers' Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Tin Can Kirikiri and Apapa said that in 2013, it wrote a letter to the federal government agency on the need to fix the road, but all to no avail.
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is reluctant to fix the failed sections of the ever-busy Apapa Oshodi expressway between Tin Can Island first and second gates bus stops, in spite of calls by road transport operators.
A haulage group under the aegis of Road Transport Employers' Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Tin Can Kirikiri and Apapa said that in 2013, it wrote a letter to the federal government agency on the need to fix the road, but all to no avail.
Investigations carried out by our correspondent last week also revealed that two broken down trucks laden with containers spent three days on the said road, thereby causing traffic gridlock.
Haulage operators told our correspondent that efforts to remove the trucks by heavy duty forklift failed on the first day of the breakdown, even as they attributed the cause to the many gullies on the road.
But, a statement made available to Auto Port Weekly last week indicated that the road haulage association at the port had written a formal letter to FERMA on the failed portion of the road.
According to document, the agency received the letter sent to it through the office of the controller of works at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, about the failed road. The letter was dated August 1, 2013, but no action has been taken to give the road a facelift.
A part of the statement, signed by the Chairman RTEAN at Tin Can Island port; Alhaji Olalere Isiaka to the controller of works, and which was sighted by our correspondent states : "We bring to your attention the dismal condition of a section of Apapa Oshodi road between Tin Can Island First gate and second gate bus stop"
“At the onset of the rainy season, these have formed pot holes which have since developed into gullies into which trucks conveying containers and other goods fall almost on a daily basis"
The statement further read: "As one of the stakeholders in the industry, most of our members are being affected because the situation is inflicting serious financial damages to our business and there is a looming tragedy that may also result to loss of life". "Besides, situation at this portion of road has also resulted into long hours of traffic jam, thereby valuable man hours are being wasted away",
The document signed by the chairman concluded by stating that, " we therefore call on your organisation to take urgent action on the repairs of this portion of the road to save road users from hardship, financial losses and imminent human tragedy”.
The letter was however sent under the care of a certain Mr. Fagbamila zonal director, FERMA at Ijora.
But responding to the letter, an officer of the agency (names withheld) denied that no letter has so far been written by the truck operator.
The officer who spoke with our correspondent said that in 2013, the agency's office at TBS received quite a number of letters for the purpose of fixing some failed roads in Lagos, but none came from the maritime truck operators.
He also urged the maritime truck owners to re-apply to the same office, pointing out that quest by Nigerians to fix some roads have been taken care of and that the ports’ access roads are also important for economic growth.
Discussion about this post