The Shippers’ Association in Lagos State has called for the temporary closure of Tin-Can and Apapa ports until the bad spots on the access roads leading to the ports are repaired.
The President of the association, Jonathan Nicol, made the call on Saturday in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Nicol said the bad state of the access roads leading to the two ports was a clear demonstration of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian shippers, both importers and exporters.
He suggested that the two ports should be shut temporarily until the bad spots on the roads are repaired.
He said shippers had been paying demurrage on trucks and containers as a result of the poor state of the roads.
Nicol said: “The Nigerian Ports Authority needs to respect its pledge to repair the roads.
“This is a Save Our Soul call To Whom It May Concern.”
The president said the APM Terminal in Apapa had a hectic time on Friday as trucks which loaded in the morning could not leave because the roads were blocked.
He said: “Drivers stayed overnight in the terminal and managed to exit the port at 4am on Saturday.”
Nicol said the access road leading to Tin-Can Island Port was no longer motorable, adding that truck drivers now get to Apapa port through Liverpool Road.
Nicol said the association of Maritime Truck Owners had given the Federal Government a strike notice.
He said the impending strike would have adverse effects on operations at the ports.
NAN.