In order to end the persistent, commutable traffic gridlock in Apapa and the surrounding areas of the state, the Senate and the Lagos State Government have expressed the need for coordinated efforts.
The State Governor at the time, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the executive and legislature to give the blue economy in Nigeria more attention in order to develop it.
During a courtesy call to Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina, the Senate Committee on Marine Transport suggested working together to address the gridlock in Apapa.
Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, the chairman of the committee and a former deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, led the delegation of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport to Lagos.
Eshinlokun-Sanni noted that the committee was visiting Lagos State and that 70% of the activities in the sector are concentrated in Lagos, claiming that Lagos is essential to the blue economy.
He argued that some of the issues, such as non-state actors, illegal collectors, and ocean surge problems, that are impeding the growth and development of the blue economy in Nigeria should be resolved right away.
He urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to keep his word and finish the automated trailer call log system, also known as the Call-Up System, to reduce traffic around the port.
Eshinlokun-Sanni urged the governor to deal with the issue of ocean surges in some of the coastal communities along the Lekki-Ajah corridor.
In response to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport’s requests, Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos, as the former federal capital with abundant aquatic resources, had the responsibility of housing the majority of the maritime agencies under the committee’s purview.
According to the governor, it was “apt and strategic” for members of the Senate Committee to visit Lagos State for oversight purposes. “
The governor asserted that the role of the committee was crucial to the advancement of the country.
Sanwo-Olu pledged his support for the committee’s work while pleading with the federal government to assist the state in building more trailer parks to supplement the state government’s efforts to combat the threat of Apapa gridlock.
The governor emphasized that all hands must be on deck to aggressively remove bottlenecks for businesses to flourish in Lagos State, especially in the blue economy sector, in order to boost revenue for the government and create wealth for individuals.
In order to advance the nation through the blue economy, Sanwo-Olu urged them to provide adequate recommendations and suggestions to the larger body of the Red Chamber, the National Assembly.
He said: “First is to thank Mr. President (Bola Tinubu) for creating a new ministry called the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the National Assembly has taken the right direction by setting up a proper committee to do oversight function in this very important national assignment.
“We know how the blue economy is transforming the indices of economic development and both the executive and legislature need to support this area such that our economic activities can better be developed, supervised and monitored.
“We need to aggressively reduce bottlenecks of businesses all around facilities and Lagos so that businesses can thrive; they can do well, generate desired revenue to keep people in employment, pay their taxes and create wealth for themselves, families and the nation in general.
“Lagos is happy that there is a whole team that is looking at the blue economy sector and we believe that when we work together, not only the sector will benefit but the entire economy itself will benefit tremendously from all the engagements.”
Sanwo-Olu praised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for giving all the bridges in Lagos State that connect to different ports prompt maintenance.
Therefore, the governor encouraged actions to lessen business bottlenecks.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Shippers’ Council in the state, and other maritime organizations in Lagos were visited by the Senate Committee as part of its ongoing oversight activities.
