Residents decry deplorable state of Apapa/Tin-Can Ports’ road

Tankers and othersblocking the road leading to Tincan Port, Apapa

Some residents of Apapa, on Thursday renewed calls on the Federal Government to repair Apapa/Tin-Can Island ports road presently in bad condition, to reduce hardship and gridlock.

The road users in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the bad road was causing avoidable accidents and loss of man hours.

A businessman, Mr Kabiru Saleh said that the bad road was affecting economic activities and health of road users.

A resident of Apapa, Mr Kaleb Ola, said that the activities of tanker and truck drivers constituted nuisance on the axis.

“I do not know why it is so difficult for government to fix this road and alleviate our sufferings.

“Everyday, you sit for hours trying to get in or out of Apapa and it is causing a lot of stress that can lead to different diseases apart from the revenue government is losing due to this unnecessary delays,’’ he said.

A civil servant, Mrs Tonia Badaru, urged government to urgently repair the road.

“You can see for yourself how the road has become impassable due to so many pot holes and gullies as well as the irresponsible behaviour of tanker drivers.

“We are really suffering,’’ she lamented.

A banker, Miss Oluwaseyi Falomo, said that it was difficult for commuters to access Apapa due to the bad road.

“Buses going to Oshodi now stop at Coconut bus stop because they cannot pass through the gullies and instead of paying N100 or N150, we have to spend the N150 or N200 to take commercial motorcycles to Coconut to board a bus.

“Apart from the risk of taking motorcycles through those gullies, we also face the risk of accidents because containers fall here every other day,’’ she said.

A food vendor, Mrs Lara Oluwafemi, also urged government to urgently fix the road.

“Government knows what to do if they care about our suffering.

“This road is very important because of the ports, they are making a lot of money here so why are they neglecting this road,’’ she queried.

A trailer driver, Mr Daniel Okudili, said that articulated vehicles suffered more discomfort on the highway.

“You can see that this road is bad and there is no way to avoid accidents here because of the gullies but government agencies still penalise us for accidents.

“I believe that President Buhari will do something about the situation,’’ Okudili said.

An official of the Federal Ministry of Works, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the ministry was finalising arrangements to mobilise Julius Berger back to site to repair the road.

A correspondent who visited the highway reports that the road, from Coconut bus stop, was blocked by trucks and fuel tankers, making it impossible for Apapa-bound vehicles to move.

The gridlock was compounded by gullies on both the Oshodi and Apapa-bound carriageways between the Tin Can first and second gates.

The depth of the gullies made it difficult for small vehicles to use the road and the articulated vehicles meander through, compounding the heavy traffic gridlock.

Commercial motorcycle operators, making brisk business, navigated dangerously in between the articulated vehicles.