By David Oladimeji.
LAGOS DECEMBER 12TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Uncomfortable with the perennial Apapa Tin Can and Wharf Road gridlock which has remain unresolved for the past ten years, group under aegis of Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN) on Thursday embarked on a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the Federal Government and other agencies doing businesses at both terminal to the gridlock rot and bad road which had cost the country trillions of naira in revenue.

MAJAN whose membership are drawn from print, electronic and online media took to the streets in large number carrying placards with inscriptions like, Apapa traffic gridlock is killing businesses; Apapa traffic is corruption; Apapa traffic is hindering trade facilitation; Apapa traffic gridlock is destroying our economy; Apapa traffic is killing our citizens, importers and innocent road users are losing their lives on Apapa road daily; Apapa road is national embarrassment and MAJAN says no to Apapa traffic logjam; among other inscriptions.
Some of the offices the protesters dropped their flyers and protest letters as they walked along Apapa axis include the Federal Road Safety Corps along Berger yard bus stop, PTML Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Tincan Island Command, NPA port complex and Area ‘1’ Command of Customs.

Other places were Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Association of Maritime Trucks Owners (AMATO), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Apapa local government council office, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Tincan port complex, Apapa port, Western port still within aApapa, NPA’s administrative office at Marina, Lagos and governor’s office, at Alausa, Ikeja.
Explaining the significance of the letters presented at the different offices, the president of MAJAN, Mr. Ray Ugochukwu said, “The media has a crucial role to play in economic growth and development, which is exactly why we are on the streets to show our displeasure about the terrible condition of our ports roads. The bad state of Apapa roads is killing innocent Nigerians and businesses within Apapa.

“We have cases of containers falling on smaller vehicles, killing innocent people and damaging goods worth millions of naira. Aside from dangers these roads pose to human lives, the economic implications are enormous. How can we facilitate trade when our ports roads are like death traps? Today, importers and exporters find it extremely difficult to carry their containers through Apapa roads.
“You can see that our protest is peaceful. We are sending out letters to stakeholders, calling on them to act as a matter of urgency to fix Apapa roads and address the traffic gridlock. The red envelops signify the danger Nigerians face on Apapa roads daily.”
Maritime Jurnalists Association of Nigeria,MAJAN,Apap
He went on, “The bad condition of Apapa roads has been there for over 10 years now. It started during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the same problem defeated late President Musa Yar’Adua, it overwhelmed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and now what is happening with Buhari in government? President Buhari what is happening to our ports roads? We would continue to protest on the streets until something is done to make Apapa roads motorable. We are appealing to all stakeholders to join hands with government to save our ports roads from total collapse. Customs join hands, Shipper’s Council wake up, NPA act now, to save our ports and Nigeria’s economy from crisis.”