Scarcity: Petroleum Tanker Queues Affecting Port Operations—-Operators

Following the protracted fuel scarcity being experienced all over Nigeria, petroleum tanker drivers have invaded major trailer parks and highways in Lagos, especially, the Apapa-Oshodi expressway, a development which port operators have lamented is taking toll on movement of cargoes.
The operators lamented that as a result of the long queues from tanker drivers, container-laden trucks could no longer gain easy access into Lagos ports‎ of Tin Can Island, Apapa Ports, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal and Lillypond Terminal to lift cargo.
Should the trend continue, the operators warn that there might be congestion at the ports.
Speaking with journalists in Apapa Lagos last week, a fleet operator and President of Corporate Fleet Truck Owners Association; Mrs. Folake George lamented that trucks belonging to her members could no longer get easy access to the ports as a result of the activities of fuel tankers.
She said that members of her association included; Dangote Group, port terminal operators including SIFAX Group, ENL Consortium, Tom Lee, Classic Marine among others. Together she said the association members have more than 5000 trucks doing business in the ports.
Mrs George however lamented that gaining entrance to the ports to lift cargoes is now almost impossible.
“There is a lot of traffic coming into the port, my own garage is at Berger Kirikiri, the influx of tankers around has increased, they come around to do their business and practically block all the roads”
“If you want to come in from Tin Can, you cannot have easy access, if you want to come in from wharf road, you cannot have easy access” she lamented
She stressed further that trucks that were trapped with the petroleum tankers in traffic cannot manoeuvre around the tankers‎ to get to the port.
Investigations conducted by Shipping Position Daily at the depot last week showed that there has been an increase in the number of petroleum tankers coming to the ports to load fuel.
A long queue of petroleum tankers was seen from Cele-Ijesha bus stop, along the Apapa- Oshodi expressway right up through Mile 2, and to the tank farms at Ibafon, Coconut bus stop.
A marketer who responded to questions from our correspondent lamented that some of the petroleum tankers have been on the long queue for over one month.
“The situation here is terrible, you can see that even the military men deployed here are trying their best to free the traffic, but they cannot, the tanker drivers are frustrated, even the container trucks too want to have access”
“The government of the day has not done enough for the petroleum sector, how can you say you have appointed a petroleum expert to be in charge of the ministry of petroleum and yet the situation is getting worse daily?”