The Lagos State Government and its partners have concluded plans to deploy the truck call-up system along the Lekki-Epe axis with a view to managing the traffic that is already building up in Lekki port corridor.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting held at Lekki Free Zone
Development, Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Seun Osiyemi said that the
government cannot wait to start the management of the traffic situation along
that axis following the indiscriminate parking by both container trucks and
tankers on both sides of the road.
Osiyemi said the government is considering use of the
waterways to evacuate bulk, dry and liquid cargo from the port.
“That is the only way we can get to the promise land, if we
wait for government, what happens is that the longer we wait the more moribund
this place becomes and then the revenue you are trying to get at will not come.
“You see, sometimes you throw out money to make money. What
are the prognosis there, the prognosis is that this place will expand and blow
out,” Osiyemi said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Managing Director of Lekki Free
Zone Development Company, Bolatito Ajibode said the zone was the only place
left in that axis for investors to acquire land as over 3,000 hectares of land
are available for use in the area.
The Managing Director of Call Up Technology, Tim Koleolu
said operators of terminals with truck parks within the red zone from Eleko
junction will be unbundled on the call-up system for ease of administration and
proper traffic management.
He said necessary hardwares have been deployed at the Lekki
Deep Seaport, Lekki Free Trade Zone and all the approved parks that are ready
for operations.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of Nigerian
Ports Authority (NPA), Lagos State Government, Lekki Free Zone Development
Company, Lekki Deep Seaport, Pinnacle Oil and Gas and Dangote Refinery, among
others.