Stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry have reacted to a statement credited to the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to the effect that the reconstruction of Oshodi-Apapa expressway would commence in two weeks’ time counting from last week.
A cross section of stakeholders who spoke with Primetime Reporters in Lagos over the announcement expressed joy over the news especially as it was coming from the Vice President himself which in turn rekindled their hope that the promise would kept.
Speaking on the development, the Vice Chairman, Dry Cargo Section of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Lagos State chapter, Alhaji Abdullahi Inuwa Mohammed described the news as a good one adding that he was convinced that the federal government was committed to providing an enabling environment for business to thrive at the ports despite the number of years they had suffered.
“We can see, because of the commitment of the federal government, in less than a week, the Vice President visited Apapa two times. He first of all visited unexpectedly to see things for himself before coming back again to hold a stakeholders’ meeting to interact with stakeholders and I believe that with their word, we are certain that something positive will come out of it”, he said.
On whether the promise would not go the way of the marching order the Vice President issued to the shipping companies last year to provide a holding bay for empty containers or be sanctioned which was not obeyed, he said,”After the Vice President had given a marching order, I think the people directly in-charge of the affairs, that is the NPA, had taken step and it was the result of the order that necessitated the sanctioning of the erring shipping companies.
“I am aware that before now, they had suspended about four shipping companies and giant shipping companies for that matter by giving them ten days suspension and an additional five days had been added last week that we held meeting with the state governor. So, I think those steps were taken based on that directive. Definitely, something good will come out of this one”.
Also speaking, a chieftain of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Ojo Peter Akintoye described the announcement as “quite unfortunate” going by the time it took the government that came with change mantra for which the citizenry expected that it would bring change and improvement to the lives of the citizens.
He observed that waiting this time with the condition of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, was quite unbearable.
“Having said that, we still want to appreciate the Vice President that he has decided to take the job up by himself, what we were expecting the Minister of Work to do but he refused to do for the past three years now, we still want to appreciate Mr. Vice President and Mr. President for them to come to the people’s aid for now. It is better late than never.
“So, we quite appreciate it and we believe that they should keep to their promise because the Minister of Works told us three years ago that Apapa-Oshodi Expressway had been budgeted for but up till now, the road is still the way it is, even worse now that nobody can drive through it not even with a bike”, he added.
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