For years, motorists sweated to get in and out of the nation’s foremost ports at Tin Can Island and the Apapa Quays. The express road, constructed to superb quality 35 years ago, outlived its usefulness more than a decade ago. The drainage was silted. Potholes had developed at many junctions and for years, the authorities neglected them.

To worsen matters, concerned agencies did not regulate the daily “invasion” of Apapa by tankers, trailers, and trucks from all parts of the country. The collapse of the rails made the roads the only means of evacuating goods from the ports.

These juggernauts parked indiscriminately, their drivers never felt bound by any regulation or law. Many of these drivers were ill trained for the job, and their vehicles mostly ill-maintained and not roadworthy. Some elements of the law enforcement agencies, took advantage of the absolute lawlessness that reigned and converted the entire Apapa zone into personal goldmines. The corrupt activities often burst into open confrontations, fights, strikes, and general mayhem.

Media campaigns drawing the attention of the authorities to their unpardonable lack of responsiveness to the plight of the foremost economic zone of the country were ignored. The Apapa and Tin Can ports are responsible for the largest non-oil revenue for the federation.

Right now, a frenetic reconstruction of the expressway has started. Users of this road have heaved a sigh of relief. Such an onerous undertaking definitely requires sacrifices from all. Motorists and commuters need to put up with some inconveniences during rehabilitation. More needs to be done to make life more bearable for road users.

Though the outer lane has been opened for motorists, more strategic plans are needed to ensure vehicular movement is not brought to a total halt, as is the case most times.

Efforts must be made to keep traffic moving. Portholes on the service lanes should be filled to ease movement. Deep gullies on those lanes have caused many trailers and tankers to fall, sometimes keeping motorists on the road overnight. Security is also needed. Thieves exploit the jams to attack motorists, especially at night

Government must set aside times when tankers and trailers can leave Apapa with their goods. It is also possible to designate some lanes exclusively for these large vehicles until the job is completed.

Lack of regulation has been the bane of commercial activities in the Apapa business zone. This anomaly should be tackled promptly. Given the importance of the area to the economy of the nation at large, Apapa should enjoy priority attention in terms of strict law enforcement. No nation jokes with the lifeblood of its economy the way Nigeria does with the Apapa Business District.

The Apapa nightmares are man-made. They are results of ineffective governance. The authorities should pay more attention to Apapa, it is in our common interest.