NPA Champions Evacuation of Refuse Dumps Along Tin Can Port Corridor
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that it is working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH) and the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to clear refuse dumps along the Tin Can Island Port corridor starting from Mile 2 to Liverpool.
Port Manager, Tin Can Port Complex, Mallam Buba Jubrin stated this on Thursday when he toured the port corridor in company of officials from Ministry of Works and Housing.
CEO,Arabella Landscape Ltd (Yellow top) during the inspection on Thursday
The authority expressed dissatisfaction over the reckless disposal of waste along the port corridors by traders and vendors, as well as the open defecation along the expressway by truck drivers.
It was gathered that contractors in charge of the road beautification are unable to commence work due to indiscriminate dumping of all manners of waste along the Berger Auto market down to – Liverpool axis.
The government institutions lamented that the waste disposal along the road has affected the proposed beautification of the corridor which was in the original master plan of the construction works as executed by Messrs. Dangote Limited.
Speaking at a joint inspection of the corridor on Thursday , the Tin Can Port Manager told journalists that all hands must be on deck to address the anomalies, noting that the road must be completed on time.
The Port Manager assured his guests that the Managing Director of the NPA will be notified in furtherance to act swiftly to clear the refuse from the road in conjunction with the relevant bodies of the state government
According to him, NPA will work closely with the FMWH and the Lagos State Government in addressing the bad condition of the corridor.
He noted that the setbacks can be attributed to lack of collaboration between the contractors and NPA adding that the Port Authority was not carried along in the ongoing project.
The Port Manager also noted that since the elections are over, the next line of action should be the completion of the road project .
He stressed the need for the government officials and the various contractors to make progress on the road adding that the synergy would solve the anomalies.
On his part, Director, Highway, Federal Controller of Works, Lagos , Engr. Umar Bakare noted that the project runs from Gbagada, hence progress has been recorded in that axis.
Bakare added that the projects are in phases but maintained that the port corridor has been discouraging with the arbitrary disposal of refuse.
While responding CEO, Arabella Landscape Ltd
Babatola Akinkugbe, maintained that the Liverpool axis was a bit sanitized against what was seen at the Coconut Sunrise end of the road.
He added that the indiscriminate refuse dump along the road was an eyesore, even as he further stressed the need for law enforcement agencies to arrest anyone found dumping refuse along the corridor.
Akinkugbe expressed optimism that “If Oshodi is cleared by the government, then the port corridor wouldn’t be an issue.
He stressed that” Once the contractors get access to work, then the problem on the road will be half solved.
