By Udeme Clement

President Muhammadu Buhari, the minister of transport, Lagos State government, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and all stakeholders in the ports have been called upon to find a sustainable solution to Apapa traffic gridlock that is killing businesses, taking innocent lives and  hindering trade facilitation in the maritime sector of the economy. This was the message sent to the President in 11 hours protest carried out by members of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), within Apapa and across the entire Lagos metropolis.

The road show, which lasted for 11 hours, began from Mile 2 bridge along Apapa road by 7.00am and terminated at the premises of Murhi International Television (MITV) by 6.00pm. Some of the offices the protesters dropped their flyers, as they walked along Apapa axis include the Federal Road Safety Corps along Berger yard bus stop, PTML Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, NPA port complex and Area ‘1’ Command of Customs. Other places were Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Association of Maritime Trucks Owners (AMATO), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Apapa local government council office, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Tincan port complex, Apapa port, Western port still within apapa, NPA’s administrative office at marina, Lagos and governor’s office, at Alausa, Ikeja.

MAJAN members who took to the streets in large number carried placards with inscriptions like, Apapa traffic gridlock is killing businesses; Apapa traffic is corruption; Apapa traffic is hindering trade facilitation; Apapa traffic gridlock is destroying our economy; Apapa traffic is killing our citizens, importers and innocent road users are losing their lives on Apapa road daily; Apapa road is national embarrassment; MAJAN says no to Apapa traffic logjam; among other inscriptions.

Sunday Vanguard observed that the protesters submitted official letters sealed in red envelops at every organisation they passed by during the protest. Explaining the significance of the letters and red envelops, the president of MAJAN, Mr. Ray Ugochukwu said, “The media has a crucial role to play in economic growth and development, which is exactly why we are on the streets to show our displeasure about the terrible condition of our ports roads.

The bad state of Apapa roads is killing innocent Nigerians and businesses within Apapa. We have cases of containers falling on smaller vehicles, killing innocent people and damaging goods worth millions of naira.  Aside from dangers these roads pose to human lives, the economic implications are enormous. How can we facilitate trade when our ports roads are like death traps?  Today, importers and exporters find it extremely difficult to carry their containers through Apapa roads. You can see that our protest is peaceful. We are sending out letters to stakeholders, calling on them to act as a matter of urgency to fix Apapa roads and address the traffic gridlock.  The red envelops signify the danger Nigerians face on Apapa roads daily”.

He went on, “The bad condition of Apapa roads has been there for over 10 years now. It started during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the same problem defeated late President Musa Yar’Adua, it overwhelmed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and now what is happening with Buhari in government? President Buhari what is happening to our ports roads?  We would continue to protest on the streets until something is done to make Apapa roads motorable. We are appealing to all stakeholders to join hands with government to save our ports roads from total collapse. Customs join hands, Shipper’s Council wake up, NPA act now, to save our ports and Nigeria’s economy from crisis.”

The deputy director, Public Affairs, NSC, Mr. Ignatius Nweke, who addressed the protesters at the premises of the Council, received the letter on behalf of the management and promised to send it to the appropriate department.  Also, top management officials of NPA who addressed MAJAN at marina, said government is making serious efforts to tackle the traffic problem on Apapa roads.