Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has shed light on the disturbing rumour that the rehabilitation of the Apapa-Ijora wharf road was stalemated due to corporate differences between Dangote Group of Companies and APM Terminals over which of the two organizations, pioneered the desire to carry out the repairs as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.

The authority explained that whereas it is true that Dangote was the first to respond to its plea for help and the first to mobilize to site for commencement of the repairs work, APM Terminals and Apapa Bulk Terminals Limited, operator of Flour Mills later identified with the project but at no time engaged in any squabble over the matter.

General Manager of Western Operations of NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi who made the clarifications in his office yesterday when the national leaders of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) paid him a courtesy visit, applauded the corporate social investment of the three organizations, as he singled out Dangote for its pioneering efforts at giving back to society. Ajayi also disclosed that contract for the repairs of the Tin Can Port road has also been awarded, hinting that both projects will be completed as soon as the rain abate.

According to him, “at the point the ports road became an eyesore and official bureaucracy heavily weighed down necessary efforts to appropriately respond, our Managing Director (Alhaji Abdulahhi Habib) and some of us became very worried. We tried to look inwards and we mooted the idea for industry intervention. We appealed to stakeholders to help out. Luckily, Greenview Ltd responded positively by offering to repair one side of the wharf-Flour Mills-Ijora bridge axis.

“But like Oliver Twist, we again called another stakeholders meeting, many operators didn’t even attend, but again, when the chairman of Dangote, Alhaji Aliko Dangote was briefed, again, he directed that Dangote Construction Company should rehabilitate both lanes of the road. He did not stop there, he directed his construction company to accede to our request to lay it with asphalt concrete. Concrete pavement wouldn’t take them time once they begin because Dangote Construction have the latest modern asphalt laying equipment. Because of the rains, they have decided to carry out palliative repairs, as soon as the rains stop, they will commence. The equipment can lay 850m per hour.

“So we have Dangote to thank. Our MD quickly took up from there and personally followed up all the correspondence at Abuja. As I speak with you, he (NPA MD) has gotten all the necessary approvals from the Honourable Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. It was at that stage that  those that were invited initially showed interest…saying, okay let us also join.

“When you think out of the box…you will be amazed what results you get, because when we started this, they were saying what is Ajayi up to. So, first Flour Mills came and later, later, APMT also showed interest. Now they are discussing, they want to have a memorandum of understanding (MoU)…as per the cost, roles, contributions etc. My intention is to also get the Lagos state government onboard. It is because the port road is bad that road users have all kinds of exploitations. We have been meeting, at the moment what we are doing is to have palliative repairs because of the rains.

To have a road properly standardized, there has to be good drainage system…there are some challenge in that respect because of the current state of planning, but we have been able to talk to some stakeholders and we have been able to locate three points where the drainage will link the river.

He farther disclosed that despite the teething opposition the authority’s decision to register trucks involved in haulage business in the ports, about 11,000 trucks have so far been registered, even as the process is ongoing. When the automation gets in full swing, it will engender public safety, encourage and improve the culture of roadworthiness compliance and also eliminate criminality within the logistics value chain.

Ajayi explained that the regime of unmonitored trucking activities was over, together with the criminalities that went with it. “We are committed to having a proper data in place to identify truck owners. This is in the spirit of public safety and operational efficiency. In an automated trucking system, a truck approaching the port already has its particulars on the radar, and the roadworthiness of the truck is also easily ascertained. At any point it loses its roadworthiness, we insist on the required standard. From the clearing agents’ angle, some of their members have been arrested and taken to police stations when drivers disappear with importers goods loaded out of the port. It has been discovered that some of the trucks are fitted with okada plate numbers to commit theft”, the western operation authority boss said.

The GM who whole heartedly identified with the objectives of AMJON, congratulated the pioneer leaders for emerging victorious in its recent elections, and encouraged them not to give room for any form of distraction but ensure that its objectives are pursued with optimal interest and capability which will enthrone the right structure and professional strength needed to put the maritime media in its proper reckoning.

He said, “I want to assure you that NPA is on your side.  My prayer to God is to grant you the strength and structure you require to succeed. When you form a broad base association like yours, you must expect some grumblings and opposition that is the character of democracy.

“You cannot form an intellectual, all professional group like this and expect that things will go smoothly from day one, so, the emergence of this body, we pray will outlive every other body on your pursuit for professional unity and integrity. What will sustain and make your group unique is the character of your members and that of the group’s corporate character. Strive to protect your corporate image and mission”, he enthused.