The Joint Council of Seaport Truckers (JCOST) has expressed dissatisfaction over directives by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to restrict movement of articulated trucks on Wharf Road in Apapa, Lagos from 7pm to 7am,
It however suggested possible ways to ease traffic during the road rehabilitation works which is expected to commence soon.
JCOST stated that, with the inadequate security in the Apapa community and the country in general, such restriction would negate trade facilitation.
Shipping Position Daily had reported exclusively last week that the Federal Government has put in place restrictive measures on the movement of articulated vehicles especially tankers ,heavy duty trucks and container-laden vehicles during the period of the popular Wharf Road in Apapa.
Secretary General of JCOST; Chief Godwin Ikeji told Shipping Position Daily exclusively, in Lagos that the restriction of such vehicles will not augur well for both the operators and the maritime sector, considering the security challenges in the country.
He said the group had advised the ministry on the best way to ensure free flow of vehicular traffic during the rehabilitation and that the government had agreed to look into the suggestions.
Ikeji advised that empty container-laden vehicles can move at night while heavy duty vehicles laden with consignment can ply one lane.
He maintained that the restriction on trucks during the period would lead to hijacking of containers at night, adding that with other traffic marshals deployed to the site would ameliorate traffic situation that may arise.
He added that, "since we are operating dual lane system on our road especially the one that concerns us, we can use one lane through the directive of the law enforcement agencies and once that one is completed, we switch to the other lane"
Lamenting on the state of decay on Wharf Road, Ikeji decried the man hours that are being lost because of the failed road network, saying that stakeholders have lost resources running into billions of Naira due to the poor state.
"The rehabilitation of the road is all for our good, but the area we feel we are not protected is in the area of movement of trucks in view with the security challenges in the country"
"This issue of restricting movement of trucks will not augur well for the trucks because the vehicles or containers can be hijacked in the process"
"The Apapa Wharf Road needs maintenance but the restriction on trucks laden with consignments can be managed by all of us, especially the law enforcement agencies”, he added.
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