With the planned commencement of loading petroleum products at the Dangote Refinery in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos this month (June), findings by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that there is no concrete arrangement that have been put in place regarding control of haulage using the electronic call-up.
Stakeholders who in a chat with our correspondent acknowledge ongoing discussions, but no definitive plan has been put in place, raising fears that Ibeju Lekki might face traffic challenges similar to those experienced in Apapa.
In a chat with our correspondent, Chief Aloga Ogbogo, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), he expressed concerns about the potential traffic issues.
He said, “Considering the traffic congestion in Apapa that was caused by the tank farms, I think Dangote should have been proactive enough to implement an organized call-up system to manage traffic congestion. I believe the Lagos State government, being proactive, would not allow a repeat of Apapa’s situation in Ibeju Lekki.
“We are open to discussions and, as a responsible organization, we will also key in, because an organized loading system will expedite the process. Your trucks load on time and return, ensuring a good turnaround and increased income. Moreover, Dangote’s loading of PMS is a welcome development, reducing pressure on our foreign exchange and creating employment opportunities,” he said.
When asked about any dialogue between NARTO and Dangote, Ogbogo said, “there will definitely be discussions. They can’t proceed without our consent, and I know they will reach out to us at the appropriate time.”
On his part, Mr Olawale Afolabi, General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), confirmed ongoing discussions with both Dangote and the Lagos State government. “Discussion as regards that (trucks movement) is ongoing. We are discussing with them, including the Lagos State government,” Afolabi confirmed.
Efforts to obtain a response from Anthony Chiejina, Chief Corporate Communication Officer of the Dangote Group, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to his telephone number were not responded to as at the time of press.
However, despite the lack of a concrete plan, the Lagos State Government and a private entity and the promoters of a Call-up Technology (Traffic Management System) have indicated their intention to deploy the truck call-up system to the Lekki-Epe axis to manage the growing traffic around the port corridor.
Speaking at a recent stakeholders meeting at the office of the Lekki Free Zone Development Company, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Seun Osiyemi, emphasized the urgency of managing traffic in the area, due to the indiscriminate parking by container trucks and tankers.
Osiyemi, who toured the Free Zone, also disclosed that the state government is considering using waterways to evacuate bulk, dry, and liquid cargo from the port.
“The government cannot do everything alone; companies operating within the Zone must join hands with the government to open this axis as soon as possible,” he said. “That is the only way we can achieve progress. If we wait for the government, the longer we wait, the more moribund this place becomes, and the revenue you are trying to generate will not materialize. Sometimes you have to invest money to make money”, he advised.
