Because we are a maritime industry media outfit, this newspaper has been harping on the chaotic Apapa traffic for years. We have written about the menace of trucks, we have also written about the nexus between the petroleum products tank farms. We have also written about the bad state of the road leading to the two ports.
Certainly, the current state of the once-serene Apapa is a combination of the factors that we have mentioned above.
Because we are a maritime industry media outfit, this newspaper has been harping on the chaotic Apapa traffic for years. We have written about the menace of trucks, we have also written about the nexus between the petroleum products tank farms. We have also written about the bad state of the road leading to the two ports.
Certainly, the current state of the once-serene Apapa is a combination of the factors that we have mentioned above.
Apapa is very strategic to the nation’s economy. The port city of Apapa is home to Nigeria’s two foremost ports which are currently being managed by nine terminal operators. Between the two ports called; Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port, more than 65 percent of dry cargoes and about 90 per cent of the nation’s liquid (petroleum products) are handled. This is because it hosts about 32 tank farms (and still counting). These are in addition to the many shipping companies/agencies, licensed customs offices and numerous other businesses that are located in this port city.
On a normal day, Apapa is a busy city, with heavy vehicular and human traffic; this is in addition to other human endeavours that take place there. The port city of Apapa equally plays host to countless number of banks and several port- related activities.
The port city is sandwiched in between highbrow residential areas like Apapa GRA, Beachland estate, and low income residential areas such as Ajegunle and Ijora, it also shares boundaries with a couple of riverside settlements.
Apapa is linked to the rest of the city by two major highways; the Apapa – Oshodi expressway and Apapa-Ijora road. Of course, it can also be approached by water from Mile Two (on the mainland) and Marina axis (on the Island).
One major stakeholder in Apapa are the tank farms, which have become an unwelcome feature in the port city, they receive several tankers which also load petroleum products daily from different depots to different parts of the country. These trucks come into Lagos empty, but they leave fully loaded with products, thus contributing their quota to the poor state of the roads and the already debilitating vehicular traffic in and around Apapa and indeed the metropolis.
Certainly, the presence of these tank farms has brought untold hardships to residents, owners of businesses, motorists and workers in the port city.
Apart from the tank farms and the tankers, the other contributor to the menace is the various articulated trucks that come in and out of the ports daily. Of course, the number of these trucks has increased tremendously since the ports were concessioned in 2006. Volume of cargo has increased significantly, so also is the means of conveying the cargoes out of ports.
Sadly however, just like with petrol tankers and the tank farms, these bulk cargo bearing trucks have also brought pains, sorrow and even deaths to Lagosians.
There have been so many accidents linked to container-laden trucks. A few examples will suffice here. In June, a container truck crushed bus load of students in Lagos.Another one happened also in June at Anthony Oke, container fell on vehicles. Yet, another occurred along the Sagamu-Benin expressway, when a container truck crushed a fully loaded bus, killing 12 occupants of the vehicle.
But the most gory was the latest which prompted the Lagos State Government to announce the full implementation of its traffic laws as it affect movement of articulated vehicles.
Since the announcement was made that trucks laden with containers should move only between 9pm and 7am on Lagos roads, there has been a standoff between the state government and various truckers associations.
Having been on strike for close to two weeks, we agree with the position of the General Manager in charge of Western ports of the Nigerian Ports Authourity; Chief Michael Ajayi who advised that the truckers should review the strike.
The strike has led to total paralysis of activities at the ports, it has also led to congestion, and loss of revenue accruable to both government and the private sector players have been lost.
We see reason in the arguments of the various truckers association, they complained about the risk of moving at night. In a state where day and night robbery and other vices are rampant, safety of the truck drivers and the cargo can never be guaranteed.
We think that, rather than restrict the trucks, government should ensure that the roads are motorable, not only for articulated trucks, but for all vehicles. The state of Nigerian roads is terrible.
Also, the state of the trucks is equally terrible, and we suggest that, rather than insist on night trips, there should be stricter enforcement of enforcement of rules on standardisation of trucks coming into load goods in the ports.
There are too many rickety trucks than good ones, perhaps there wouldn’t have been so many accidents involving these trucks if there aren’t as many rickety ones as we have on our roads.
It is good that the faceoff is being resolved and the trucks are back on the road, but it this is temporary respite. Until the issues surrounding the activities of container-laden trucks are taken care of, we can’t yet say it over.
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