By Roland Ekam, Lagos
In a bid to address issues of open defecations along the port corridors in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) ,has been advised to provide mobile toilets for truck drivers and conductors .
The port access roads linking the two seaports in Lagos can be described as an eyesore, even as stakeholders have expressed worries over the uncultured nature of the transporters.
Observers have argued that aside the deplorable state of the ports corridors , truckers have no other option than to obey the call of nature along the road, since government has failed to provide the needed infrastructure to aid trade facilitation.
Speaking against the backdrop of the unhealthy habit of the transporters, Public Relations Officer, National Council of Managing Director Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Raph Agbogu accused management of the Hadiza Bala Usman led NPA of recklessness over health related matter.
Agbogu called on management of the authority as a matter of urgency to provide mobile toilets for the transporters who spend man hours along the corridors to lift or return cargoes to the seaports in Lagos .
The spokesman lamented that “There is the tendency of looming epidemic and pollution within the maritime environment if the uncultured and uncivilized attitude should continue along the port corridors and that is why am calling on management of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA to provide mobile toilets for the truck drivers and motor boys because this is an eyesore and national disgrace to us “.
Agbogu who is the Managing Director Sovereign Gate Nigeria Limited, further maintained that the services of Seaview Properties Limited in port operations has been under utilized saying , much has not been achieved by the sanitation arm of the authority.
He also called on management to further engage Seaview Properties Limited to fashion out modalities in the area sanitation along the corridors.
” From Mile 2 down to Tin Can Island Port is an eyesore because the rubbish you see there can lead to disaster one day. Same goes to Warehouse roundabout at Wharf road down to the Lagos Ports Complex in Apapa.
“I believe some of the officials of NPA is aware of these mess yet no action taken.
“Its a national disgrace to the gateway of the nation’s economy I must say”, Agbogu added.
