The Senate has directed its Committee on Marine Transport to investigate the implementation of the Electronic-Call Up System of admitting trucks into Apapa Port terminal as well as alleged extortion by port officials.
This followed the adoption of a motion on a Point of Order by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) during plenary on Tuesday.
The motion was co-sponsored by Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos) and Sen. Adetokunbo Abiru (APC-Lagos).
Raising the point of order, Tinubu commended the Federal Government for the reconstruction of Oshodi-Apapa expressway and the completion of the Apapa Ports spur line of the Lagos -Ibadan railway.
She, however, noted with great displeasure that the gridlock had persisted on access roads to Apapa Seaport for many years, saying it was a source of concern for individuals and business owners plying the road.
“The Nigerian Ports Authority recently introduced the electronic call up system for admitting trucks into the terminal and to control the movement of trucks in and out of Lagos Seaports,” she said.
The lawmaker said that in spite of the well intentioned initiative, the chaotic traffic situation had lingered as tankers and trucks were still beig parked indiscriminately on the roads causing inconvenience to residents, commuters and business ownees in the area.
“We are concerned that the tankers have not been incorporated into the e-call up system and the areas where container trucks used to be stationed has now been taken over by the tankers.
“The gridlock has persisted due to the terrible condition of Apapa port, the concentration of Tank Farms in the area and the indiscriminate parking of petroleum tankers.
“The tank farms attract thousands of trucks and tanker drivers who lift the petroleum products for onward supply to Nigerians, who owing to the paucity of parking lots, take up all the space on the road instead, thereby causing traffic,” she said.
Tinubu called on all stakeholders to work towards ensuring a viable working system and institutions that will benefit the people.
