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Fake social media accounts : NIMASA DG cautions the public Apapa traffic gridlock: NPA calls for synergy among stakeholders
- Lagos NUJ Chairman tasks shipping firms on holding bays
- As maritime stakeholders laud MAJAN on summit
(Report by Udeme Clement):
Following concerns raised by port users on perennial traffic gridlock along Apapa ports access roads, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has called for synergy among all agencies of the Federal Government, traffic managers and relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry to address the issue holistically.
The Principal Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication Department of NPA, Mr Kingsley Orji Ukabiala, made this call while giving a good will message at the summit on Apapa traffic, organied by Powerful Pen Newspaper, a Publication of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday.
Mr Ukabiala, who represented the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman,
stressed that the E-Call-up system introduced by NPA is a well thought-out strategy put in place to ease traffic on ports roads.
He stressed that the E-Call-up system has come to stay.
“The Managing Director of NPA is working tirelessly to tackle the traffic situation on Apapa ports roads. She is using technology to address the problem and will not relent until the situation is brought totally under control.
“At present, we need collaboration among all stakeholders, as well as information sharing, in order to proffer lasting solution to the problem”, he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State chapter, Mr Adeleye Ajayi; urged shipping companies to provide functional holding bays for empty containers.
According to him, “We need holding bays for empty containers, in order to ease traffic on ports access roads. The E-Call-up system introduced by NPA is also a step in the right direction.
“We should not depend only on the roads to move cargoes from the ports. Barge operations should be encouraged. There is urgent need for functional rail system to fast track movement of cargoes”.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion,
Chief Eugene Nweke, former President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and a reputable maritime consultant, commended MAJAN for putting together such an important summit.
His words: “I thank MAJAN, the organisers of this important summit on Apapa traffic gridlock. Only proactive Journalists who want the development of the nation’s economy would make this kind of sacrifice to support government in growing the port industry.
“I am aware of other Programmes organised by this same group of Journalists on Apapa traffic crisis, including a protest march to draw attention of government to this problem.
At the end of this summit, recommendations made must be submitted to all government agencies, as well as the Presidency.”
From right: Mr Ukabiala (third) on the high table giving his good will message
Some members of the high table in group photograph
NUJ Chairman during interview with reporters at the summit
From Left : The NAGAFF Registrar, Mr Francis Omotosho, the keynote speaker, NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ray Ugochukwu and Publisher of MMS Plus; Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, at the summit.
