Kunle ADELABU
The President of the Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Engr, H.O.B. Lawal, has called on the Federal Government to put the Nigerian Port Authority in Ipakodo, Ikorodu, to maximum use.
He made the call during the visit of the body to the palace of Oba Bashir Sotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo, in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.
Engr. Lawal also called for the rehabilitation of Ipakodo-Ogolonto road which was reconstructed by his company, Consteng Engineering Limited in 2006
“It’s time that the government upgrade and utilize the Ikorodu Port which is not being put into maximum use”, he charged.
According to him, the Port, if put into maximum use, would boost the economy of the host community, State and the nation at large.
“The Port was built to decongest Apapa Port when there was congestion during the period of cement importation into the country. Is the government going to wait till when we have an unbearable congestion before putting the facility in Ikorodu Port into use?” Engr. Lawal asked.
The ICCI President also stated that there is need for the redredging of the Lagoon for easy passage of ships into the Ikorodu Port.
While commenting on the deplorable state of the Ipakodo-Ogolonto road, he stated that the road was reconstructed as link road for vehicles and not for heavy-duty trailers now plying the road.
“The road was not constructed for what it is being used for now. It wasn’t meant for the heavy-duty trailers that are now plying it but as a link road for vehicles from Lagos road into Ikorodu. The road is now in deplorable state due to the trucks that are plying it.
“When we constructed the road, there was an agreement that every year, the layer should be relayed with asphalt. We also told the State government to ensure asphalt resurfacing every two years but since then, the government has not deemed it fit to resurfaced it once”, he recalled.
Oba Sotonwa, while responding, deplored the state of the road and called on the government to do something very quick before it finally collapsed.
He added that he had written a letter to that effect to the Comptroller-General of Custom few days back to see to the rehabilitation of Ipakodo-Ogolonto road.
“In respect of your concern on the Ipakodo-Ogolonto road, we have written to the Comptroller-General of Custom telling him of the deplorable state of the road due to the heavy-duty trucks from the Port that are playing it.
“The road is not just serving people of Ipakodo, but the entire country and government will need to do something about it quickly.”
The traditional ruler also joined Engr Lawal in calling on the Federal Government to upgrade and put the Nigeria Port Authority in Ikorodu to maximum use.
