LCCI says Apapa gridlock destroying nation’s economy

The perennial gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and other access roads leading to the two major seaports in Lagos (Apapa and Tin-Can Island) is destroying businesses and the economy at large, said the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Remi Bello, LCCI president, said the total collapse of transportation logistics and access to the major ports has brought about an urgent need to relocate the tank farms to the outskirts of the city as they constitute a serious safety hazards to the port users.

“Getting to the ports has become an unprecedented nightmare; moving out of the ports is even a greater nightmare. The entire system has become totally dysfunctional and delivery of empty containers and the evacuation of cargo has become a terrifying experience,” said Bello.

He said there was an urgent need to revive the rail system for the purpose of evacuating cargo from the Lagos ports.

“The nation needs to make the refineries functional to reduce importation of petroleum products which will reduce the convergence of tankers at the various ports and there is need to also improve the reliability, safety and integrity of pipelines across the country as a means of moving petroleum products,” he said.

He disclosed that charges by haulage vehicles had increased astronomically because of the long travel time as well as turnaround time resulting from the slow pace of cargo evacuation from the ports and paralysis of other businesses along the axis because of reduced patronage due to reduced access by customers.

This, he added, was taking a toll on the private sector and the entire economy, especially in frequent accidents resulting from fallen containers in transit because of the state of the roads and high demurrage resulting from the slow evacuation of cargo.