By Shulammite ‘Foyeku
The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) has threatened to withdraw its members’ trucks from the port by September 26th if nothing significant is done to fix the dilapidated port access road.
Chairman of the Association, Chief Remi Ogungbemi said in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), a copy of which was made available to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY yesterday that the deplorable state of the port access road was responsible for the falling and severe damages of their trucks on a daily basis; a situation he said is creating financial difficulties for the operators.
“In view of the above, if nothing significant is done on the road on or before 26th of September 2016, we shall withdraw the services of our trucks from both Apapa and Tin Can ports until the road is safe for movement of vehicles and cargoes.
“In view of the dwindling price of crude oil being the nation’s major source of revenue, we opined that the port should be another survival hub by which the nation could get out of the present recession.
“We believe that the road leading to the gateway to the nation’s economy supposed to be one of the best in the country; it is inexplicable that the roads leading to Apapa and Tin Can are being neglected for so long.
“It should have been appropriate for agencies concerned to pay crucial attention to the ports roads by embarking on total rehabilitation,” Ogungbemi said.
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