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Union’s ex-boss flays government’s neglect of Apapa port roads

By Gloria Ehiaghe
20 February 2018   |   3:16 am
The immediate past President-General of Maritime Worker Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Emmanuel Tony Nted, has expressed sadness over Federal Government continuous neglect of the deteriorating Oshodi-Apapa dual carriage highway.

MWUN, Anthony Nted Emmanuel

The immediate past President-General of Maritime Worker Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Emmanuel Tony Nted, has expressed sadness over Federal Government continuous neglect of the deteriorating Oshodi-Apapa dual carriage highway.

Nted stated this during the commissioning of a multi-million-Naira road and solar-powered street light he financed for residents of Corporation Estate in Amuwo Odofin, Local Government Area of Lagos State.

According to Nted, the level of infrastructural decay across the country, especially the dilapidated access roads to the nation’s ports was shocking and unbelievable. Describing the maritime industry as being one the best, he bemoaned the low number of vessels that calls at the port as most of them are diverted to neighbouring ports due to government’s policies and poor access roads. The former union’s boss who called for speedy repairs of the roads, stated that when the roads are motorable, it will generate more revenue, create more employment opportunities and make life better for port users.

He said: “If vessels come in, they will remain at the quay apron for more than a month. the vessels cannot offload because trucks cannot access the ports to load due to bad roads.

“To me it looks like people in government are not thinking, because if they are, they would allow the roads across the country especially access roads to the ports to degenerate to what they are today. That is the gateway to the nation’s economy where government generates bulk of its revenue. So, if Apapa and Tin -Can Ports and others are actually the gateway to the nation’s economy, then government should act fast.

“I believe in practical. When I was the president of MWUN, we had four meetings with the government over this issue, nothing was done. May be now, it will be different. At the commissioning of the projects, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, urged philanthropists to give back to the society and assist the government in areas of infrastructure and social amenities, as government is unable to do it alone.

On what informed the gesture to his community, Nted said that he loves to give and to support the society. He said: “I was born a philanthropist whom I learnt from my parents. I love to give. That is what motivated what I am doing today and everything in my life. I love to support the society.”

Speaking on Nted’s contributions to infrastructural development to his community, Ambode, who was represented by a member of Lagos State House of Assembly who is also from Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Dipo Olorunrino, commended the former union leader for the projects.

He said: “As representatives of the government, we are supposed to do this but he has lifted some burdens from us. As government, we can’t do it alone. This is simply humanitarian service and not corporate social responsibility. CSR is a compulsory act by law. What we expect to move forward Lagos State is for well to-do people to do things like these.

The movement of Lagos to the next level is what we crave for, it is our desire and I can assure you we will get there.”Earlier, Chairman of Corporation Estate Development Association, Uche Odiche, said what Nted has done for the residents would remain indelible and is worthy of emulation.  

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