The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has appealed to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to assist in undertaking an urgent comprehensive repair and maintenance of all dilapidated roads leading to the ports in the country.

Oyetola, who personally delivered the message to the Umahi on Tuesday evening, during his visit to the ministry in Abuja, listed 15 roads that required urgent attention, noting that access roads leading to the ports play a pivotal role in the efficiency of the ports.

According to Oyetola, the dilapidated access roads are making importers and exporters experience high transportation costs, prolonged transit times and heightened risk of accidents, adding that all these issues cumulatively impede national economic growth, discourage foreign investment, and hinder the country’s international trade competencies.

Some of the access roads are 1.6km dual carriage road within the Lagos Port Complex, 3km Tincan Island access road, 15.3km Eleme Junction -Trailer Park Junction dual carriageway at Onne Port and 3.1km FLT-FOT Roundabout single carriageway, also at Onne Port.

Responding, the Umahi appreciated Oyetola and commended him for taking the trouble to visit his office with the request. He promised to take the matter up without any further delay as he agreed with Oyetola that the fixing of the listed access roads would increase port efficiency and aid the country’s economic growth.

Umahi requested his counterpart to nominate a representative who would be meeting with one of the directors in the Ministry of Works on Wednesday to devise means of carrying out the task at hand.