Port access road: Congestion looms, SIFAX Boss sounds warning

Harboursandport: Lagos --- The Group Executive Vice Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi has warned that there is looming congestion at the nation's seaports of Lagos, if urgent steps are not taken by the Federal Government to fixing the deplorable Tin-Can/Coconut port access road. 

President Mohammedu Buhari Speaking in Lagos, Dr. Afolabo warned that should the situation ne allowed to degenerate to congestion, it will not only shut down port operation but also have serious effect on the nation's economy that is import dependant.

The SIFAX boss said that many portions of the Tin-Can/Coconut port access road contains large craters and ditches which had made the evacuation and delivery of containers and other consignments by heavy-duty trucks more difficult which will negatively affect the country’s economy.

According to him, “I want to urge the government to quickly fix the Tin-Can Island Port access -- Coconut road, even if it is just some form of palliatives.  This road has completely broken down, with attendant chaos experienced by road users on a daily basis. Moving containers from the port to bonded terminals at Okota and other surrounding areas is now an uphill task”.

Afolabi also mentioned that many clearing agents could no longer deliver goods on their promise to their consignees. He however stressed that they want the government to intervene urgently and save the industry from this serious infrastructure crisis.

“A palliative at this time will be in order, even as we look forward to a more sustainable solution to all the roads in Apapa and other deficient facilities in the Port.” he added.

Afolabi emphasized that the dwindling revenue of the government from the port is partly due to the deplorable state of the port access road. “When the road is fixed, there will be an increase in the vehicular movement in and out of the ports. Consignees will quickly move their goods out of the port and will come back to get more goods, this will help increase the revenue being generated by the Customs and other relevant agencies at the port”, he said