Founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has asked the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to focus on rehabilitating and opening up the roads leading to Apapa and Tin can Island ports to address the perennial gridlock on the port access road.
Speaking while addressing newsmen in his office yesterday, Aniebonam said the perennial traffic jam currently being experienced at the port has impacted negatively on cargo turnaround time and may persist until the roads are repaired.
“This is the gateway to the economy. So the changes we expect is that the road should be open. Why should the road be that bad? We don’t need this type of tiny road between Ijora and Apapa. The government has what it takes to break up the road to open up the axis and compensate those living there. That is what government can do especially when it is being done for public interest,” he said.
He called on the new government to ensure that the laws of the land are enforced noting that the port access road had remained in a bad shape for too long due to the corruption of some government officials who have continuously awarded contract without the works being completed.
“The new government should ensure that the laws of the land are enforced. When you enforce the law, it will help fight corruption. The change that people are talking about which is predicated on Buhari by his integrity is good governance in the maritime sector and that calls for enforcement agencies of the government to live up to their responsibilities and make people do the right thing,” he said.
Aniebonam who is also the Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party said he is optimistic that the naira, which lost its value by over 50% due to uncertainties and apprehension that surrounded the last general election will soon rebound.
“The dollar is coming down steadily and I am sure by the time he (Buhari) takes over responsibility, the whole thing will go down completely because there was some sort of uncertainty during the election period. Now the hope is there for people to do business once again because there is peace,” he said.
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