Barely two months, ago, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo visited Lagos seaports over issues bordering on gridlock.
The taskforce on port roads congestion has concluded plans to compel shipping companies operating in Nigeria to pay a certain fee to truck owners over delay to receive empty containers at the appropriate time.
Though the amount has not been unveiled, the decision was made known by stakeholders at a meeting in Lagos, Wednesday.
The decision which expected to take effect from Monday next week, also conclud that broken down trucks along the roads would cough out a whopping Five Hundred Thousand Naira to the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency(LASTMA) after it has been evacuated and taken to a detention bay.
The taskforce committee headed by the NNS Beecraft, Apapa, Commodore Edet Okon Eyo said the decision would serve as a means of decongesting the port access roads.
Eyo Said, “If your vehicles break down on the roads, be ready to pay N500,000 before thinking of picking it for repairs.
“Broken Vehicles can be taken to Kinkin, National theatre and other places and your vehicles will be evacuated to the nearest detention facility. LASTMA will be charging a minimum of N500,000.00 from defaulter,” he said
Also speaking, the Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Mr. Adele Elijah Owolabi Stated that Truck Drivers and Owners should henceforth not to be made to pay for costs which are not their faults .
He however called on Truck Drivers to henceforth make reports to his office and the commanders of NNS Beccraft so as to enforce the payment of demurrage on erring Shipping Agencies.
In his words: “Take the pictures of your trucks once you have brought it to where is designated for you to take it to, send it to commodore and send it to me”
“If they hold for two days, we will charge the respectable shipping companies because nobody can do this in their countries. The system has to change it is a must.”