Bala Muhammed (General Secretary, AMATO)
At various stakeholders’ engagements, prior to the completion of the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Sea port, we advised that there should deployment of electronic call up system and provision of truck transit parks that would accommodate thousands of trucks coming to Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep sea port without spill over on the road in order to save Lekki corridor from the traffic infection that once hit Apapa/Tincan ports zones, before the coming of Eto electronic call up system.
Comrade Ifeanyi Abel Chukwu (Admin/Asst. Secretary, Merchant Navy)
The solution that I will proffer to the traffic situation in Lekki Free Trade Zone is nothing more than: Electronic Queue Management System (EQMS). In my own personal opinion, it is the most viable option in truck trafficking management, because it will provide real-time effective and efficient procedure, process/ data, to optimise movement of trucks within Lekki-Epe and its environs which is the Free Trade Zone.
It is the most viable option capable of addressing challenges of congestion and optimise flow of goods and services within the environs of the zone especially with its modern technology and intelligentsia algorithms, that will be put in place to allocate resources efficiently and effectively to reduce waiting time for trucks and also save time for other road users within the axis.
Gbolahan Adu (NISA Publicity Secretary)
If rail tracks are created in that axis, that will reduce the level of traffic being faced. Lekki Port and Dangote refinery have the option of the use of waterways. If the waterways are effectively used, it will also reduce the high level of traffic at the Lekki Free Trade Zone. Other measures such as Electronic Traffic Control Systems can be employed.
Mr. Kunle Ajayi (Truck Owner)
It is simple; management of traffic on the road is simple when it is void of corruption and extortion by the security agencies. There needs to be a test-run and getting to know the traffic level either high or low. Then, appropriate measures should be put in place to handle any traffic jam at intervals. Once corruption sets in everything just like Apapa, it will be very difficult to manage. The Police, LASTMA, VIO, Road Safety and all other related agencies would need to work hand-in-hand in the development and improvement of all traffic management exercises. If not for the fact that our people need jobs and we can’t render them jobless, ordinary cameras can be used to manage traffic perfectly without any human interference.
Otunba Sola Olatunji (Shipowner)
We are yet to have full operations at the Lekki deep seaport. On the Dangote refinery, it is supposed to be a blessing to this country and West Africa. But we are disturbed that Dangote is getting involved in retail loading, which is creating major reasons while you have the mega traffic build-up around that axis. In my view, Dangote should stop truck loading and focus on coastal loading, which this mega Refinery was meant to achieve. Once we are able to achieve this, the traffic which I know was caused by avoidable mistakes will disappear.
Taiwo Fatomilola (National PRO AREFFN)
I would advise that the same system applied in Mile 2 to Tincan/Apapa road should be applied, that is, the Call up ETO system. However, there are many systems that were applied on Mile 2 – Tincan road only the electronic Call up also known as ETO worked. So if this is applied and fails to work, then others can be suggested.
Aloga Ogbogo (NARTO Chieftain)
For me, it is a good development because ordinarily it will reduce the burden of cargoes from Apapa. We also hope that the factors that led to the crisis in Apapa in terms of traffic congestion will be addressed through the provision of necessary infrastructure. It is my expectation that transit parks should be put in place. Truck holding bays should be on ground to accommodate trucks. Again in the plan, there should be provision for the expansion of infrastructure to accommodate cargo throughput. The problem we have in Apapa and Tin can is that the roads that were constructed over 20 years ago are still the roads that are being used despite an expansion in cargo throughput. It is my expectation that those factors should be taken into place in the course of planning.
Frank Obiekezie (National Secretary, AREFFN)
From the Apapa- Tin Can port experience, we have come to understand that multi modal transportation system is the solution. Right now, going into Ajah is a hellish experience. There have been so much concerns about the Lekki Deep sea port. If it is a deep sea port, it means that most of the vessels coming in there will be in large sizes. So they have to put in every effort to avoid the Apapa experience. However, rail transportation is very key. I cannot say they have done much in that direction. When they start now, they will see the problems coming up. They should not allow what happened in Apapa port repeat itself.
