The National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) has decried the poor condition of access roads leading into and out of the nation’s seaports even as it called on Lagos State Government use the money it collects as Wharf Landing Fee to fix the roads.
In a letter sent to President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the port access roads and made available to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, National President of the association, Lucky Amiwero, said the potholes on most of the port access roads that link Tin Can Island Port, Lagos Port Complex Apapa, PTML, Brawal and Lilypond had led to frequent fall of containers from trucks.
“The potholes pose a huge threat to lives and properties due to the endless traffic congestion on the roads leading to and fro of the ports.
“The condition of the roads has assumed an alarming proportion as a result of the daily loss of lives and the continued destruction of loaded goods that always fall on cars, trucks and sometimes on persons.
“The state of the road also aids the smooth and uninterrupted operation of armed robbers on daily basis on the dilapidated roads,” Amiwero lamented.
Amiwero stated that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is expected to maintain and manage the ports access road with part of the seven percent ports development levy.
He further stated that regulating traffic within the limits of a port or the approach to the port is within the purview of the Authority.
“After the concessioning of the ports in 2006, the NPA is limited to the provision of services on the marine components of the port which necessitated the need for reallocation of the development of the surcharge to the most demanding aspect of port development which is the port access road.
“The road has constituted a stumbling block to our international maritime traffic thereby making our ports one of the most expensive within the sub region.
“Lagos State Government should contribute part of the collection of wharf landing fee for the maintenance of the port access roads which was the main objective for the collection,” Amiwero stated.
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