As part of its efforts to implement the Federal Government’s executive order on the Ease of Doing Business at the nation’s seaports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has assured port users of the its readiness to ensure that the access roads to the nation’s seaports were effectively rebuilt.
Speaking after inspection at the site of the ongoing reconstruction work on Apapa- Ijora/Wharf road, Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of NPA, said the rehabilitation of road has become vital to enabling the nation to tap into the financial dividends from the port.
According to her, “This would impact most positively in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She said that the inspection was part of NPA’s continuous monitoring strategy geared towards ensuring that all the components required to meet deadlines are achieved.
She noted that efforts are being made by the Federal Government to facilitate express funding of the project which is expected to create a more enabling environment for doing business at the ports on completion and subsequently attract investment in the sector.
Hadiza said that the Federal Government would also appreciate swifter operational deployment by the construction company, AG Dangote, even as she assured port users of quality of work.
According to her, the role of holding bays in decongesting the traffic gridlock in Apapa is critical. She also pointed out that a licensing regime on the subject is being perfected between the NPA and the Lagos State Government to enable operators in this regard to have access into the ports and function under guided directives.
Hadiza however appealed to port users to be patient while the road reconstruction last. She called on them to also contribute to the project realisation by abiding strictly to necessary directives put out to ensure customer satisfaction while the rehabilitation last.
