The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) yesterday said physical toll collection by agents of the Lagos State government was fuelling traffic gridlock on the port access road.
Speaking during an enlarged Presidential Port Standing Task Team (PPSTT) meeting and an update on the second phase of operation free the port corridor along Apapa- Tin-Can- Coconut -Berger yard – Mile2-Orile-Ijora Sifax, the executive secretary of the council, Emmanuel Jime, urged the Lagos State government to automate its toll collection processes.
The Shippers’ Council boss, however, commended the presidential port task team’s officers for clearing the port access road which was filled with shanties, allowing extortion.
Though he said he recognised the need for the state government to increase revenue to meet current economic and social challenges, he, however, advised the deployment of technology in the state to enhance ease of doing business and to make the road free of encumbrances.
He said: “We recognise the government’s resolve to raise revenue, whether the state or local government. This is important and we needed to recognise that the purpose of the task team was to clear the port corridor of traffic because if we don’t do this, we won’t be able to get efficiency and economies of scale. It has been shown that if we have efficiency, the port and government will make more money.
“But, in raising revenue, it has to be done in such a way that ease of doing business is not affected. This is 21st century; we can collect revenue and deploy technology. We appeal to the government because the method used in collecting toll on the road is outdated; we can find more ideal way of doing that without impeding traffic.”
However, the Lagos State government said it will be introducing another method for the Lagos State Park and Gardens and the Apapa Local Government officials to collect toll in order to ease the gridlock on the port access road
The LASG, which was represented by one of the directors in the Ministry of Transportation, Olayinka Sakiru, said residents of Apapa had abandoned the port city due to heavy traffic it suffered in the past.
However, the Lagos State government said it will be introducing another method for the Lagos State Park and Gardens and the Apapa Local Government officials to collect toll in order to ease the gridlock on the port access road
The LASG, which was represented by one of the directors in the Ministry of Transportation, Olayinka Sakiru, said residents of Apapa had abandoned the port city due to heavy traffic it suffered in the past.
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