In its bid to get rid the port corridors of corruption, shanties, illegal parking of trucks and trading along the Lagos Port corridors, the Federal Government through the Ports Standing Task Team (PSTT) has flagged off the ‘Second Phase’ of the Operation Free The Ports Corridor in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki who was represented by the Deputy Director, Maritime Services at the Transport Ministry, Mr. Adams Ofie commended all port stakeholders for their roles in ensuring the modest success recorded by the ‘Phase 1 of the operations and the Ports Standing Task Team (PSTT), for the initiative. She however, noted that efforts would have to be intensified to attain more successes in the new phase of the operation.
In his welcome address at the occasion, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime expresses his delight at the effort of Port Standing Task Team. He recall that, “In April this year, the maiden flag-off of the exercise was held in these same venue and to repeat the same task in marking the second phase is an exciting demonstration of success that the PSTT has achieved during the first phase".
Hon. Jime stated that many people had their reservation while others expressed their doubts as to the capability of the task team in successfully clearing the Apapa port Complex to Sifax- Ijora Road corridor with a view to bringing sanity and ensuring free flow of traffic.
“To be fair to the cynics, we all knew the enormity of the task to be a herculean one. However, at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, buoyed by the cooperation of other committed stakeholders, we were resolute and dogged in our resolve in contributing to change the narrative".
He however, noted that the team’s success was not without dire consequences including stern resistance, intimidation, threat to lives and physical assault of operatives, gadgets and vehicles of the PSTT.
“A case in point was the attack on some personnel of the task team including the National Coordinator where they were assaulted and harassed. As I stated during my address of welcome at the maiden flag-off ceremony, the whole idea of “Operation Free the Ports’ Corridors” is essentially to rid the ports and Ports’ Corridors of inefficiencies and corrupt practices to enhance the ease-of-doing business. Therefore, I would like to reiterate my appeal to everybody or groups that still nurse reservations to kindly see reasons and cooperate to ensure that the Ports Corridors are free for ease of movement and conduct of businesses".he added.
NSC boss stated that the second phase of the operation will cover Apapa – Tin-Can – Coconut – Berger Yard – Mile 2 – Orile – Ijora axis, noting that the 15.6km road is littered with shanties and trucks parked indiscriminately thereby causing untold hardships to other commuters and creating opportunity for extortions and other forms of corrupt practices by both state and non-state actors.
Also Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner of Transportation, Hon.. Frederick Oladeinde assured that Lagos State will continue to give its backing to the operation to ensure that the corridors are free of traffic gridlock that has made it difficult to access the ports.
His words: “As part of the commitment of Lagos State government, we have commissioned the Bola Ahmed Tinubu park to be able to take over 2,500 trucks. I also plead with the PSTT which has focused more on the in-bound traffic. I want us to work together to remove the challenges affecting the out-bound movement of trucks".
On his part, the National Coordinator of PSTT, Mr. Moses Fadipe stated that “Operation Free the Ports’ Corridors” is the third in the series of activities in monitoring the implementation of the Nigeria Port Process Manual (NPPM).
“We would appreciate the support of the ministry to assist in pressing on the sister agencies to Shippers’ Council to also shoulder some of the financial and logistic responsibilities of the task team. At the moment, the burden of funding the task team is solely on the NSC despite its paucity of income. Suffice to say that the imperative of multi-agency support for logistical and personnel needs of the task team is more relevant now considering that the new operational phase we have flagged off,” Fadipe said.
He stressed that the intervention of NPA and NIMASA will be greatly appreciated in this regard, adding that the PSTT required more pick-up vans in the fleet to aid the operation more effectively.
On remarks from stakeholders, the Zonal Coordinator of Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) AGC Aremu who was represented by Comptroller Umar expressed delight on the operations of the task team and assured that the Service will give them the maximum support and corporation to make the port corridors free of illegalities.
The representative of the Association of Nigerian licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Alhaji Mukaila the General Secretary of the association, in his remark urged the Lagos state government to device a seamless mean to collect whatever tax the want to collect from imported cargo within the ports to avoid where the state agents like the Wharf Landing Fee Authority stop trucks on the roads to collect tax. He frowned at the ways and manner trucks trucks are being stopped at every junction by boys waging clubs at truck drivers all in the name of collecting un-receipted local government levies.
In his remark, the representative of Apapa Customs Command, Deputy Comptroller, Odusanya, noted that the deplorable state of Area B through Ijora to National Stadium is in a mess as trucks and motorists cannot move freely thereby making it look like the task team had not done anything.
He urged the Transport Minister through the Lagos state commissioner of Transport to do a little palliative to make the job more easier for the PSTT.
The Chairman, Apapa Local Government, Mrs Idowu Sebanjo, observed that Apapa environs has observed a new ambience of serenity, peace and orderliness since the PSTT commenced the first phase of its operations.
She noted that residents and business in Apapa should be excited with what is going on, she stressed that a lot of people aren’t aware of PSTT and its achievements, hence, the need for more publicity on the campaign. She added that PSTT and her office Apapa will compete favourably with the likes of Ikoyi and Victoria Island considering the great potentials abound in Apapa.
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