The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has made a strong case for relevant authorities to expedite actions for the deep sea ports in the South West to commence full operations as part of effort to ease movement of containers from the two ports in Lagos.
NAMM has also advised the Federal Government to encourage the use of alternative means of transportation to lighten the present pressure on the ports and Lagos roads.
The Master Mariners suggested to the government that the rail lines and inland waterways were better alternative to move containers from the seaports to inland container depots.
President of the association, Captain Ade Olopoenia made the suggestion at a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos yesterday.
According to him there was need for the relevant authorities to expedite actions to the completion of the relevant deep seaports in Lagos.
He noted that the Badagry, Lekki and Olokola projects needed to come on board in time to reduce the number of truck plying both Lagos and Tin Can Island Ports respectively.
Olopoenia said that there was need to train and re-train the truck drivers as a remedial action to address the incessant accidents on the state road.
He however advised the government to ensure that container laden trucks and tankers do not ply the Western Avenue Bridge stressing that all laden trucks should have complaint telephone number; and any tilted or bending trucks should be parked off the road.
He noted that traffic control and traffic management officers should ensure that loaded trucks do not ply Western Avenue as according to him, the road was not constructed for containers laden trucks.
“Drivers and their motor boys, alcohol influence, training and re-training of drivers, immature drivers, inspectors at loading base, over speeding, loaders are the human elements causing the danger on our roads”
“Pot holes on the road, gradient of overhead bridges and the Western Avenue bridges are not for container carry trucks.
On the part of the government, the association’s front man advised that all enforcement agencies should check drivers and their motor boys to check their composure.
“In addition to the facts of the container laddened trucks, petroleum tankers not fully loaded makes the liquid in the tanker to wobble and make the truck unbalance on the road thereby causing accidents, pouring out liquid content which spill over the road must be taken to avoid over speeding of the tankers”.
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