By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that access roads leading to the ports in Nigeria play a pivotal role in the efficiency of the ports.
To this end, he has appealed to the Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, to assist in undertaking an urgent comprehensive repair and maintenance programme for all dilapidated roads leading to ports in the country.
According to the Minister, the dilapidated access roads are making importers and exporters experience high transportation costs, prolonged transit times and heightened risk of accidents.
He added that, “All these issues cumulatively impede our national economic growth, discourage foreign investment, and hinder our international trade competencies.”
Mr Oyetola, who personally delivered the message to his counterpart during his recent visit to the Ministry, listed 15 roads that require urgent attention.
The roads cut across the Lagos Port complex, TinCan Island Port, Calabar New Port, Delta Port and Onne Port. Some of the access roads are 1.6km dual carriage road within the Lagos Port Complex, 3km TinCan Island access road, 15.3km Eleme Junction -Trailer Park Junction, Dual Carriageway at Onne Port and 3.1km Federal Lighter Terminal and Federal Ocean Terminal, FLT-FOT Roundabout Single Carriageway, also at Onne Port.
In his remarks, Mr Umahi appreciated Mr Oyetola and commended him for taking the trouble to visit his office with the request, promising to take the matter up without any further delay as he agreed with Mr Oyetola that the fixing of the listed access roads would increase port efficiency and aid the country’s economic growth.
To demonstrate commitment to his pledge, the Minister of Works immediately requested his counterpart to nominate a representative who would be meeting with one of the directors in the Ministry of Works to devise means of carrying out the task at hand.
Modupe Gbadeyanka