The road to Apapa Port

Shippers’ Association in Lagos State, has called for temporary closure of Tin-Can and Apapa ports until the bad spots on the access roads leading to the ports are repaired.

President of the association, Mr Jonathan Nicol, made the call on Saturday in Lagos in an interview with  NAN.

He said that the bad state of the access roads leading to the two ports was a clear demonstration of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian shippers (importers and exporters).

He suggested that the two ports should be shut temporarily until the bad spots on the roads are repaired.

He said that shippers had been paying demurrage on trucks and containers as a result of the poor state of the roads.

“The Nigerian Ports Authority needs to respect its pledge to repair the roads.

“This is an SOS (Save Our Soul) call To Whom It May Concern, ’’ Nicol said.

The president said that the APM Terminal in Apapa had a hectic time on Friday as trucks which loaded in the morning could not leave because the roads were blocked.

“Drivers stayed overnight in the terminal and managed to exit the port at 4 a.m. on Saturday,’’ he said.

He said that the access road leading to Tin-Can Island port was no longer motorable, adding that truck drivers now get to Apapa port through Liverpool road.

Nicol said the association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) had given the Federal Government strike notice.

He said that the impending strike would have adverse effects on operations at the ports.