By Godwin Oritse

PLANS are underway to move trucks off the Apapa-Oshodi express way to the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex. The  Association of  Maritime Trucks Owners (AMATO),    National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO),  and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have agreed   to move all their trucks and personnel to a parking facility at the Lagos  Trade  fair complex .

The move is coming on the heels of the traffic gridlock on the Apapa/Oshodi Express way that has almost paralysed port activities and delayed cargo clearance  from the ports.

The project which is being  midwifed by  Multi-Aulic Limited, is to ensure that  no truck driver is  allowed to leave the terminal unless such a driver is called to the port for cargo evacuation.

The facility, according to Managing Director of Multi-Aulic Limited Alhaji Alhassan Dantata  has the  capacity to accommodate 5,000 trucks adding that the holding bay has four truck terminals with equipped  recreational centres , eateries, toilets and other facilities when fully in operation.

Speaking to newsmen during a tour of the facility by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole, Dantata noted that the proximity of the complex to the port and completion of the ten lane Lagos-Badagry road will further complement  movement of  cargo  in and out of the ports.

Commending the efforts of  both the private firm and  the other groups Oyewole said that  the scheme  is  classical example of Mr. President’s Transformation agenda, which will reduce congestion at the nation’s seaports thereby enhancing trade facilitation in Nigeria.

The presidential aide noted that the initiative will provide logistics to ports operations, reduce corruption and enhance security in the maritime industry as the human element in transactions at the ports will be eliminated.

He urged owners of the facility to develop a synergy with the Nigerian Ports Authority and other  stakeholders in order to achieve the objectives of the scheme.

Dantata disclosed that one of the terminals is intended to be dedicated to export processing, and this is to serve as a one stop shop for export  services, noting that the centre will also provide a large cold room.

Dantata further  disclosed that all old and rickety trucks will soon disappear from the roads as arrangements  have been made to replace them, adding that  two thousand new trucks have been ordered for that purpose.

On the issue of security, water and power Dantata explained that  boreholes have been sunk for water supply, the entrance  to the terminal has  electronically controlled gates  and will be lit twenty four hours, just as sniffer dogs are being trained to fortify the security of the place.

A sixty KVA power generator will be on standby for 24  hours power supply.