Strike: Why we are yet to carry out repair of Apapa, Tin Can ports link road- Controller

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Kayode Popoola, has said that the ministry is yet to secure approval for construction work to be carried out on the failed portion of the Ijora/Breweries axis along the Apapa port road.

Popoola stated this while reacting to threats by the Maritime Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (AMATO) to embark on strike over the deplorable state of the port access roads.

The truckers have issued a week ultimatum from Friday, 12th November, 2021 for the government to fix the roads, which they described as death and accident traps where trucks carrying loaded containers and fuel tanks keep falling on a daily basis.

They said traffic robbers are also taking advantage of trucks/cars slowing down at road potholes to rob motorists at gun point and sometimes, burgle and divert containers.

Speaking in a chat with Maritime Today Online, Popoola appealed for calm of the truck drivers, assuring that efforts are ongoing to get the federal government’s approval for permanent construction of the road.

“We are waiting for the approval of the proposal for a permanent work to be done on the site. That was why we did palliative the last time but unfortunately, the rain has been heavy in the past few months and that is why when we do palliatives, it does not last but permanent work will soon be carried out when headquarters approves it.

“We can’t say when the approval will come. My own is to send the proposal to headquarters, they will then process it and approve. I can not say the exact time when they will approve it but I am sure they are processing it.

“There is no need for the truckers to embark on strike. The federal government is doing its best to make sure that all the roads are in good condition despite the fact that the finances are not much. You know what comes in now in terms of revenue yet the federal government is trying to fix all the infrastructures that have decayed over the years. They should please bear with the federal government, there is no need to go on strike. At least if you look around, there are a lot of projects that are going on. If they now go on strike, are they encouraging the federal government?” he queried.

On the rehabilitation work on the Apapa/ Oshodi road, Popoola said the work is going on steadily while the second section of the Tin Can port road has been awarded for work to commence.

“The work on the Apapa/ Oshodi axis is going on steadily, so they should please exercise patience. On the Tin Can axis, they just awarded that section two, so the contractor needs to plan but they have started working on that section. We are doing the drainage. The major problem we have at that portion is the water there. So, they are doing the offshoot that we take the water away from the road, we are working,” he said.