Ease of doing business: Completion of critical road in Onne sea port excites cargo truckers, port community

..Top company commends NPA

Road difficulties leading to Onne seaport has been a nightmare to port users but the completion of a critical road inside the port has elicited excitement especially with truckers.

The road popularly known as Road D is said to connect to very important segments of the seaport especially for trucks that must deliver good into or off the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT). Trucks are said to tumble on the road when it was almost a deathtrap.

Port users had described the importance of the road in terms of traffic congestion crisis, accidents, and risks of trucks tripping over on the earthed road.

The efforts to complete the road had attracted excitement as far back as February 2025 when one of the prominent terminal operators in Onne wrote a letter of commendation to the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA).

Newsmen gathered that Nicolo Scannavini, the managing director of OMT Terminal, written to commend the NPA management on the feat.

OMT saw the road as very helpful to the Onne Port community and its workforce. He had on February 10, 2025, written a letter to Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of NPA, applauding NPA for fast – tracking the completion of a section of Road D at FOT, Onne Port.

Now, there are positive signals that the dreams may come true any moment from now when the road would be opened to traffic, and that container truck drivers and other road users are happy to hear about the impeding opening of the completed portion of ‘Road D’ at FOT.

Those who have so far interacted with prominent agents and members of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) (name withheld), at Onne Seaport, have picked hints of the road about to be opened.

This is said to be due to the troubles truck drivers and other operatives encounter on the bad road. A major source said: “First is our appreciation to the Managing Director of NPA for the construction and completion of a section of Road D; and also thanking OMT management for showing leadership by encouraging NPA CEO to open the already completed section of Road D @ FOT, Onne Port”.

Also last week, newsmen gathered that many drivers who got wind of possible plans by NPA to open the completed section of Road D, described it as a welcome development, thanking NPA for stepping up their push to address road infrastructural needs @ FOT, Onne Port.

A source also hinted that ‘trucks tripping’ on the earthed road had been a regular situation, prompting OMT Management to beg NPA MD to consider approval for the use of the already completed section of Road D, @ FOT, Onne Port.

Further, Scannavini of OMT Terminal had in a move to address the road challenges of his company operations, and that of truckers and other terminal operators at FOT Onne, taken the initiative it took in February, 2025 by writing to the NPA.

The letter with the subject: “Request for Permission to use completed Portion of Road D”, said they were writing to express sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) for the construction of Road D within the Onne Port Complex.

The company added that the completion of a section of this road was a significant milestone in the development of the ports infrastructure; saying they commend NPA for its efforts in enhancing the port’s facilities.

“The construction of Road D has been a long – awaited project, and we are delighted to see it nearing completion. As a major stakeholder in the Port, we are eager to utilize the completed portion of the road to facilitate the movement of personnel, equipment, and cargo within the Port. We believe that this will not only improve our operational efficiency but also contribute to the overall safety and security of the Port”, OMT MD was quoted as saying.

It was gathered that OMT MD also made case not only for their operatives in the usage of the completed portion of the road, but for truckers, agents and other terminal operators in the environment, pleading with NPA to open the already completed section of Road D @ Onne Port.

Scannavini had told NPA MD that facilitating early completion of the sensitive road would enable NPA to ease traffic congestion, prevent accidents, and reduce the risk of trucks tripping over on the earthed road.

He had said: “We are confident that granting users permission to use the completed portion of the road will have a positive impact on the overall operations of the Port and enhance the safety of all stakeholders”.