Lagos -Chief Remi Ogungbemi, President of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMARTO), has said that the closure of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway by the Lagos state government will affect operations at the Lagos ports as the closure of Lagos port activities.
Ogungbemi told newsmen in Lagos that the closure of the road was as good as the closure of port activities.
According to him, unless many alternative routes are created, ports activities would be grounded for the period of the closure.
Lagos State government had on Wednesday said that it would with effect from Oct. 23 close the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to traffic for the construction of the Okota-Itire overhead bridge.
Reports say that the expressway serves as a major route to the seaports, the biggest tank farms in the country and industrial estates like Amuwo Odofin and Isolo.
The expressway also links the Lagos-Badagry-Seme border expressway.
He said that the association was still studying the modalities put in place by the state government to avert traffic congestion as a result of the closure.
He explained that the problem would be worsened for container laden trucks because the Western avenue was a “no-go’’ area to trucks during the day.
Ogungbemi said that already the roads within the vicinity of the ports were inadequate, adding: “by the time the expressway is closed everywhere around the ports would be congested.”
Ogungbemi said that the state government should be thinking about relocating the tank farms as well as some of the cement factories around the ports to reduce the traffic jam.
The first phase of the closure of the expressway will last for 45 days; the second phase 45 days; while the third phase would last for 30 days.
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