NPA Moves To Decongest Roads Within Lagos Ports

Mr Mohammed Nasir, Apapa Port Manager, has againdecried the high number of abandoned broken down trucks within Lagos ports, noting that abandoned trucks were impeding the flow of traffic and prompt delivery of imported cargoes to destinations. He said that NPA would not tolerate the situation and was making efforts to open up the roads.


Nasir pointed out that the NPA was clamping tyres of vehicles parked indiscriminately on access roads inside the ports. “We expect any truck that picks a cargo, especially with a container, to move out of the port. If they don’t wait inside the terminal, why should they take their cargo and come out and wait on our access roads, creating inconveniences and encumbrances for other port users. So, obviously, we have a responsibility to ensure that all our access roads inside the port are free of trucks. We also have continued to sensitise and educate stakeholders that accesses roads within the ports must be free from any encumbrance”, he said.

He said NPA would enforce standard on trucks operating within the ports, stressing that rickety trucks, which were more likely to be unserviceable, would n longer be allowed. “Various efforts are ongoing, including synergising with some private operators who are disposed to bringing new trucks into the haulage business. The newer the truck, the more efficient it becomes to operate both inside the port and out of the port to anywhere including the hinterlands”, Nasir said.