The seventy two billion naira worth of contract for the reconstruction of the Apapa Oshodi expressway in Lagos which has continued to witness high trucks and container traffic within the metropolis is to be funded by future taxes paid by the Dangote group according to authoritative sources from the Federal Government.
Recall that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) signed off on the contract award two weeks ago amidst growing outcry for government to take a decisive step towards resolving the traffic gridlock in the port city of Apapa which has grossly affected return on investment and other businesses.
Against this backdrop, the Federal Government is also assuring that the reconstruction of the vital artery, the first in almost 40 years will be completed in two years.
“As you know, the project and the cost was not provided for in the 2018 budget and what we have done is to get the Federal Executive Council approval for the funding to come from future taxes to be paid by Dangote group”, Babatunde Fashola, Power, Works and Housing minister told Businessday in an interview.
According to him, “I am in touch with the president of the group Aliko Dangote and we are confident that the job will be completed in 24 months. It is a very important breakthrough because as you know, there has been no meaningful work done on that road since it was built decades ago.”
The contract was awarded to Dangote Construction company which is the same firm rebuilding the dilapidated Wharf road in Apapa and there is also the chance that the company will seek to speed up the work by bringing in sub-contractors to handle sections of the road.
Up until the time of filing this report, the traffic situation caused by the proliferation of tankers and trailers on the ever busy and very strategic Oshodi-Apapa Expressway has remained chaotic.
Almost on daily basis, the situation continues to grow both in size and scale as articulated trucks going into Apapa have laid claim to the highway by converting every inch of space as their parking lot.
Speaking with our reporter on Thursday, Daniel Japheth, a civil engineer who relocated his Apapa office to Ikeja in 2016 as a result of the perennial gridlock regretted that, the current challenge on the Apapa road has its roots in the past.
He stated that top on the list of major causes of the gridlock is the location of tank farms in areas along the road with facilities storing imported petroleum products. Apart from losses incurred by businesses as a result of the gridlock, security issues remains of paramount concern as commuters and other motorists are being robbed of their valuables by criminal elements while in traffic.
Between Tin-Can Island port and extending to Sunrise Bus Stop, there are a number of them as hundreds of tankers arrive at these facilities daily to lift petrol and diesel.
On daily basis, there are also containers terminals that allow in a high number of obsolete and non-roadworthy trailers, coming to pick up or drop containers and in the process compounding the situation and inflicting misery on other road users.
Bothered by the gory tale of traffic logjam along the Apapa-Oshodi corridor, Vice President Yomi Osinbajo was in Lagos about three weeks ago during which time he gave marching orders to the relevant authorities for the trucks to be cleared out of Apapa roads.
Unfortunately, this presidential order has not helped the situation as the Apapa corridor is still overwhelmed by trailers and tankers beginning from the Tin Can Island to Apapa Port to Mile 2 and Kirikiri Industrial Layout, dovetailing to Oshodi.
Meanwhile, authorities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and stakeholders in the maritime and transport industry in search of lasting solutions to the situation have at different fora accused port operators of being responsible for the ugly state of affairs.
Over 26 concessionaires operating in the ports are largely being blamed for their inability to establish holding bays, which would have taken care of the haphazard manner the trucks park on the roads.
MIKE OCHONMA
