Communique on the One-Day Seminar on the “Sustainability of the Lagos Ports Access Roads: Lasting Solutions”, Organized by The League of Maritime Editors, Held at Rockview Hotel Apapa, Lagos on Dec 12, 2019.

INTRODUCTION
The seminar focused on the protracted traffic gridlock along the Lagos ports roads, which has had spiral negative effects on port trade, services and delivery. It is generally believed that our port trade efficiencies and services delivery anchored on robust national economic advantages has been on progressive decline in the past five years.
This has given room to import diversion to neighbouring countries, which has also resulted roaring cost climb, cost vagaries and inefficiencies, credit deficiencies, profit erosion and business lull at the market level, and trade imbalance, dwindling foreign reserve and capital flight at the level of national economy. It is these concerns that have propelled the League of Maritime Editors to help find solutions through this economic engagement.

The seminar attracted participants from various segment of the port industry. Among the crème la crème of industry in attendance is Hassan Bello, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, represented by the GM Corporate and Strategic Communications, Engr. Adams Jato, President, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration, Dr. Yusuf Jamoh, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, Chairman, Presidential Task Team on Decongestion of Apapa Ports Roads, Fwdr. Dr. Eugene Nweke, HOD, Sea Empowerment and Research Centre Ltd GT and Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, Founder, National Association of Govt. Approved Freight Forwarders.

Others are maritime elder and commentator, Otunba Kunle Folarin, FOC Commanding, Western Naval Command, …….represented by Captain ……, .

OBSERVATIONS
1.It was observed that Ease of Doing Business passionately championed by the presidency has irrevocably broken down, and has given room to the present harsh operating atmosphere.

2.It was also observed that the Presidential Task Team on Decongestion of Apapa ports road despite official claim to the contrary, has failed in achieving its mandate in a timely fashion, a development participants observed have further contributed to the socio-economic morass.

3.Participants observed that the Lagos ports have seen been overwhelmed by current social and economic demographics, such as population growth, social and economic expansion without a commensurate rise or adjustment in port systems structure, super structure and infrastructures built over two decades ago.

Read More : https://businessandmaritimewestafrica.com/the-intractable-issues-on-lagos-ports-access-roads/

I went to Honeywell Flour Mill at 2nd gate, Tin Can Port there in Apapa last month November 21.
I saw hell...It was a such a nauseating experience. Thanks to Opay eventually.

Lagos residents, to be sincere you're trying.
May God not keep my daily bread in Lagos.
I can't cope with that kind of stress.

Those bridges were definitely not made for those stagnant weights of trailers.
Those FMCG companies, Oil farms and the ports in that axis will continue to make the situation imminent.
It's Terrible