Perturbed by the continuous traffic gridlock on the port access roads, the Federal Government has inaugurated “Operation Free The Ports Corridor” to ensure easy movement in and out of the seaports.
   
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs. Magdalene Ajani, while officially flagging off the initiative championed by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in Lagos, said the efforts of stakeholders on Apapa roads are gradually yielding positive results.
    
She said the aim of the initiative is to achieve Ease of Doing Business in Nigerian ports, urging members of the team to follow the standard operating procedures (SOP).
   
“The greatest thing that can happen to Nigeria and Lagos, in particular, is to have free port access roads,” she said.
   
Ajani commended the improvement in vessel berthing time from five hours at anchorage to 90 minutes, as well as incidents reduction, which has led to a positive effect on operations at the ports.
  
The permanent secretary opined that the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) has already been making progress, while she hinged the success of the newly inaugurated team on the collaboration and commitment of all stakeholders.
   
The Executive Secretary of NSC, Emmanuel Jime said the task team was set up for the purpose of removing illegal checkpoints and shanties along the ports’ corridors.
   
He, however, applauded the support and level of buy-in obtained from the stakeholders, especially the public and private sectors.
   
Jime said: “I can assure everybody on behalf of the task team that the operations will be conducted without undermining the provisions of any agency’s SOP and or the Act. The team is mindful of all legal and institutional frameworks guiding the operations of all agencies operating within the corridor.”
  
The Head of the PSTT, Mr. Moses Fadipe said the “Operation Free The Ports Corridors” to be handled by the Port Standing Task Team (PSTT) comprises port stakeholders and Inter-Agency representatives in the maritime industry.
  
He noted that there is the quick discharge of cargoes at terminals and speedy turnaround of vessels at the anchorage but the problems on the port access roads mar the other successes.
   
Fadipe also expressed delight at the zeal with which the PSTT members from respective agencies addressed numerous issues and encouraged them to continue with such an approach in the new task of freeing the ports corridors.
   
Port Manager, Apapa Port Complex, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu tasked all agencies involved in the operation to be patriotic and shun bribery and corruption.
   
She stressed the need to eliminate the gang of miscreants that are hindering the government’s efforts at ensuring sanity on the access roads.
   
The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Olusegun Ogungbemide, said complying with the minimum safety standard is critical to achieving free traffic on Apapa roads so as to ensure that trucks are not developing faults on the roads.
   
He also lamented that the overwhelming impact of miscreants on the TinCan corridor is hindering the process.