How Apapa gridlock, bad roads ‘hinder port operations’

Vicky Haastrup, chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), says the gridlock and bad roads at Apapa area of Lagos, are frustrating the operation of the seaports.

Speaking to journalists, Haastrup described the situation as a “monumental national disgrace”.

She said terminal operators were working under harsh business condition, despite the “huge investments” they had made towards developing the ports.

She complained that more licences are still being issued to tank farm owners, further compounding the problem.

The STOAN chairman wondered why successive governments in the country allowed the port access roads to degenerate until they became impassable.

“The situation in Apapa particularly as it relates to access to the port is a monumental national disgrace,” Haastrup said.

“How can a sector that has such huge potential and that generates billions of naira for government be left to so degenerate?

“Government is looking for oil but we have a sector that has the capacity to give you all the revenue you need yet the sector is suffering. Why has it not been attended to?”

She also asked the ministry of works, power and housing to urgently reopen the bridge exiting Apapa at Leventis/Area B, which has been shut down for several months.

“Without reopening that bridge, the inflow and outflow of trucks will remain a major challenge in Apapa,” she said.