Following the recent directive given by the minister of works, Mr.Mike Onelomemen to contractors handling the rehabilitation of the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway in Lagos to expedite action on the construction of the 450 capacity trailer park opposite Tin Can Island port, the Joint Council Of Seaport Truck Owners (JCOST) has frowned at the minister’s directive, saying that it is not possible to complete the project under 16 weeks.
Following the recent directive given by the minister of works, Mr.Mike Onelomemen to contractors handling the rehabilitation of the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway in Lagos to expedite action on the construction of the 450 capacity trailer park opposite Tin Can Island port, the Joint Council Of Seaport Truck Owners (JCOST) has frowned at the minister’s directive, saying that it is not possible to complete the project under 16 weeks.
The group, through its Chairman, Mr.Kayode Odunowo told Shipping Position Daily in Lagos that government has been on the project for years without yielding positive results.
He said stakeholders should be on the look-out, because the directive is just mere talk made by the minister. "It is not possible to complete that park under 16 weeks ,they started it three and half years ago with no result how can they now complete it under 16 weeks, I think it is a mere paper work on the part of the government", Odunowo stressed.
The Chairman of JCOST who also doubles as the deputy State Chairman of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) also urged other transporters in the maritime industry to join the council to fight a common course for road haulage operators in the sector.
According to him, the truckers have been able to tackle the restriction on the movement of trucks in the state after discussions with the Governor of the state through the commissioner of transport Lagos.
On his part, financial secretary of JCOST and chairman Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN),Tin Can Island Chapter, Alhaji Isiaka Olalere added that the proposed trailer park will not solve the problem of a holding bay for trailers as the park after completion can only accommodate 500 vehicles.
Olalere said, "that place cannot be enough for trucks operating with the ports. In fact three of that park will not be enough for the trucks ".
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