NARTO CALLS FOR CONCERTED EFFORT TO FIX PORT ROADS

Tayo Oladipupo |

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has called for concerted efforts to fix the perennial bad spots at the Tincan axis of the Apapa/Oshodi expressway

The logistics giant says there are need for stakeholders’ input to assist the federal government so as to expedite actions on the project especially the drainage channels within Berger to Coconut bus stop.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos recently, a chieftain of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Sani Abubakar noted that fixing of the port access roads without stakeholders input may not be appropriate adding that the dilapidated state of the roads should be a major concern to all.

Abubakar who lauded efforts by the federal government to award the failed road to AG Dangote Nigeria Limited, pointed out that operators in the industry have key roles to play in ensuring that the project succeeds.

He said before the construction of the road proper, there was the need for operators to remove all the blockades along the abandoned drainage system for easy flow of water out of the road.

“Concerning the contribution of stakeholders in ensuring that the road takes a good shape, I must say that the drainage system must be taken good care of”.

Recall that the Ministry of Works Power and Housing disclosed recently that the construction of the road has been ceded to AG.Dangote.

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing had secured approval for the reconstruction of the Creek Road Tin Can Island-Beachland right through to Oworonshoki to the toll gate end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for the full reconstruction of that road which was built around 1975.

On his part, Lagos Vice Chairman, dry cargo section of (NARTO), Alhaji Inuwa Abdullahi said that best option to fix the road should be by stakeholders’ collaboration with the government.

Inuwa said truckers are suffering because of the dilapidated condition of the access road linking the two ports in the state noting that palliative works put in place by the tank farm operators failed to yield positive results.