Why It's Difficult To Clear Port Access Roads Of Trucks, Debris - Apapa Local Govt. Boss

The Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo recent spoke with journalists while playing host to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) in her office at Apapa. She spoke on efforts so far made by the Council, challenges encountered, help from Federal Government agencies and more.

Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo

Excerpt:

Since I came on board, I cannot say that I have encouraged the good boys and the different people who collect tolls on the street of Apapa. It's one thing I have never agreed to and I have never employed anybody to do anything in that capacity. 

You still have those who go under ground and who say they are working for the local government, but they definitely are not  working for the local government. 

L-R: The Executive Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo presenting a souvenir to the visiting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime in her office recently.

Today we have our own Identity cards (ID cards) which we give out and when you see our ID card, you will know straight away that these are not Apapa local government staffs.

We are not encouraging this kind of thing because we know that majority or 60 percent of the problem in the street of Apapa are actually caused by these touts collecting fees.

Okay ma, another issue is debris and refuse littering over Apapa. A lot of refuse everywhere. You mentioned it in your tra. What are you doing about it?

Yes, thank you for asking that question. The debris, cleaning of Apapa is a hectic task, and the local government cannot do it alone. We have done what we can and everyday our trucks are out there clearing and cleaning up what we can clean. But you find out that other agencies who are responsible for things like this, cannot even or were not able to come into Apapa because of traffic. So, they have left it. 

Some of those working with them stopped coming into Apapa because of transportation cost and accident from all these trailers, was on the increase. So you find out that when you post some of them to Apapa, they don't want to work in Apapa. 

But as a local authority, we have done all we can do. We have employed people. We need to employ more people who will help to clean up and clear the drains, and the drainage and the refuse along the streets of Apapa.

You said last year, you evacuated 200 trailers and it's not up to half?

Over 200 and it wasn't up to half of the filth and dirt in Tin Can either.

This filth where is it coming form?

From the traders and people who are there. When the road is blocked nobody can go there to work. The tanker drivers are defecating on the street. They eat, they sleep, they bath and they do all sort things on the road.

People can't go there, cars cannot pass. Those who are in charge of cleaning those areas cannot work there. I mean the place became something else. Fortunately for us, we were able to go in and do something about it.

Ma, what about those trailers that packed at night on the road?

Well, to the best of my knowledge, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) are doing what they can do to alleviate those problems.

Shanties?

The shanties as you know, few weeks ago, NPA task force are out there clearing all the shanties. They are clearing both Apapa and Tin Can. So we hope that more companies will come up on board. 

After seeing all these, they will come on board to help in making the environment much better. Because in clearing these shanties, we need to also provide space for these people to earn a living.

Whatever it is they are selling on the road, they have to feed their families. If you take them off the road, how do they eat? I am not encouraging them but at the same time, you are taking food out of their mouth. We have to look for space. 

Apapa is already developed. Looking for space for building such facilities is almost impossible but with the help of the federal government and the state government, I'm sure we can come to something.