Even though he recounted the challenges of Apapa residents in accessing their homes due to the traffic congestion caused by trucks, a major proponent of the unpopular 'Wharf Landing Fees' being collected by the Lagos State Government on every truck bringing out cargo from Apapa, Senator Muniru Muse has justified the continued collection of the levy.
Senator Muse in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week claimed that major roads within the Apapa Local Government are currently undergoing construction and renovation.
Even though he recounted the challenges of Apapa residents in accessing their homes due to the traffic congestion caused by trucks, a major proponent of the unpopular 'Wharf Landing Fees' being collected by the Lagos State Government on every truck bringing out cargo from Apapa, Senator Muniru Muse has justified the continued collection of the levy.
Senator Muse in an exclusive chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week claimed that major roads within the Apapa Local Government are currently undergoing construction and renovation.
According to him, development of industries within Apapa community is what has further affected the area and taken over all the space meant for road construction.
Specifically, Senator Muse suggested that factories like Flour Mills Nigeria Limited should pave way for a major road construction so as to allow trucks move out of the port.
"Apapa is a very small area but what we have in the area presently by way of industry is too much, the expansion of Flour Mills has taken over the whole area, they are supposed to build a road within their complex that will lead to Marine Beach so that vehicles leaving their complex will not come out and block the small road"
"Tin Can has got a wider area and by the time construction works on the road is concluded the roads will be free, but Apapa has no place to expand", he said.
Senator Muse who is Chairman of M-TOF Consulting Services LLP, collectors of the fee on behalf of Lagos State Government told Shipping Position Daily that the State Government through Wharf Landing Fees collection is currently building roads everywhere in Apapa.
He bragged that: "Come there and see what the Lagos State is doing by way of innovation, Julius Berger is working hard in all of Apapa, Marine road, Warehouse road, Commercial road is currently undergoing construction".
He condemned insinuations that the fees collection should be scrapped, even as he revealed that the collection of Wharf Landing fees had be provided for in the Federal Government's financial memorandum.
Speaking further, he said, "let me tell you, you are talking to the man who initiated the wharf landing fee, I initiated it in the year 2001, even though I was not in the government party, it is already covered in the Federal Government's Financial Memorandum, not that somebody thought about it, it is stated that Wharf landing should be collected by the local government, so I took it up".
There are still so many companies that are not paying the money, look at all the tanker drivers, they have refused to pay, but we are talking to them, the government is talking to them" the Senator said.
He however noted that the current traffic situation in Apapa will hinder the Navy, Army, Police and other security apparatus of the government from carrying out their security duties.
Discussion about this post