Truck Drivers Raise Alarm Over Congestion At LPC

As vessels laden with rice and other general cargoes continue to berth at ENL terminals in Apapa port, there are indications that the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) may soon be faced with the challenges of congestion.

Shipping Position Daily investigation revealed that the port access road connecting the terminal is also blocked whenever vessels are at berth, as trucks expected to lift consignment could not gain entry to the bulk cargo terminal.

Truck drivers, who spoke to our correspondent in Lagos, yesterday lamented that the recent development has caused confusion among the drivers who often go to the LPC to lift consignment from the said terminal.

Apart from rice, the drivers also lamented that, "whenever vessels are at berth at ENL terminal, there are always congestion at the LPC, most especially when it has to do with movement of other vehicle going in and out of the port.

Our correspondent who was at the LPC, yesterday confirmed three vessels berthed at the terminal discharging various cargoes.

Some of the vessels at berth include: Ionians. D, Frio Petropalvsk and MV Yung Ling which was discharging steel product.

The drivers, who called on the concerned authority to monitor situation, also reiterated that the development has caused delay for the trucks to exit the terminal.

The drivers stressed that “as it is we don't even have vessels laden with fish at that terminal and as soon as they start coming, the gridlock will increase."

"Presently it is rice and steel products that are coming into the terminal, but when those vessels with fish start coming the case will be different."

Our correspondent who was taken round the scene confirmed private vehicles that ply the road were forced to use the opposite lane to beat the gridlock as the turning to terminal was in chaos.