It took the consolidated demonstration of freight forwarders, truckers and some other business persons at the Apapa and Tin Can Ports over the dilapidated roads to get the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to pledge N4.3 billion to reconstruct access roads around Apapa Port.
Port operators had to withdraw services over poor infrastructure to get the government to fix the roads to the nation’s two biggest seaports which generates over N5billion daily. Is this the only system that gets the Nigerian government to fulfill its basic obligations? Clearing agents and truck operators who went on strike to protest the poor state of the port access roads have remained adamant, saying they were yet to see concrete evidence that government was ready to address their grievances.
How can the government turn a blind-eye to the road infrastructure that spins billions daily? NPA could raise N4.3 billion, but waited until a strike, yet we aim to be the hub of maritime activities in the West African Sub-region.
