The Federal Ministry of Transportation will organize a tripartite meeting with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on the demolition of NCS scanner on the Apapa railway.
Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State for Transportation, revealed this during an inspection of the ongoing rail construction at the Apapa Port, yesterday.
Noting that the Customs facility has stalled the completion of the railway construction, Saraki assured that a meeting will be slated soonest to address the problem.
Her words: “We are here to look at the issues affecting activities to connect the rail to the Apapa seaport. As you can see, the construction of this standard gauge has been ongoing for more than two years and I came here to inspect the activities.
“We want to ensure that before the end of next month, the activities here have improved. By the end of this month, we want to ensure that the removal of this Customs facility which is on the rail track is resolved. The goal is to have this track operational by the end of this month.
“Although this building looks big, it is actually a minor issue that will be resolved by the time the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) sit together to discuss it.”
She, however, noted that it has been agreed that the building is going to be demolished.
“The fact is that the building is a radioactive facility. It is a scanner and we have to ensure that the demolition is done safely by the right personnel,” she added.
The Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olotu received the Minister at Apapa Port and showed the Ministerial team the operations at the nation’s premier port.
Saraki was accompanied on the tour by the Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Linda Ikpeazu; Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria; Director General of Nigerian Maritme Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; NPA Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Ms Adenrele Adesina; NPA Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Hon. Onari Brown.
Other dignitaries on the tour which included port terminals at Tin Can, were; NPA Port Manager, Tin Can Island Port, Mr. Buba Jibril; Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Barr. Sam Nwakohu.
Photo: L-R: Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria; Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki; Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Linda Ikpeazu; and the Director General of Nigerian Maritme Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh; during a tour of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, yesterday.
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