FG justifies picking Dangote Group for reconstruction of Wharf-Mile2-Old Toll gate road

Apparently to address the nagging issue of traffic occasioned by the activities of tanker drivers, container operators and other users of the Apapa area, the Federal Government, has in principle, entered into partnership with Messrs Ag Dangote Group, for the reconstruction of Wharf Road to cover Mile 2- Oshodi Expressway, up to the old Toll Gate, 7Up area.

Briefing the media in Lagos last week, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, in the company of representatives of Ag Dangote representatives of the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), National Union of Petroleum (NUPENG), the National Union of Road Transport (NARTO) and other stakeholders, said as part of its social responsibility, AG Dangote, the NPA and Flour Mill, had initially provided an intervention to reconstruct the notorious Leventis-under-bridge axis of Apapa Wharf Road.

“But in view of the reality that the road up to Oshodi, Mile 2-Iyana Oworo axis up to old toll gate, is in deplorable condition. We have agreed in principle with Dangote Group to extend the work to the above mentioned areas.”

The minister noted that the funds would be provided by the contractor in form of the taxes they ought to pay. This is because the project was not captured in the current budget to be funded, but that the initiative by the contractor is the most sensible and helpful one at this point in time.

Fashola, while justifying the policy employed by Ag Dangote, said the firm approached the federal government to do a holistic work from Wharf-Mile 2-Lagos-Ibadan Old Toll gate, adding the project would be executed through the existing policy that had been in place by the past administration.

“There is an existing policy of government that we met on ground by the last administration. This policy is for the private sector to invest in infrastructure and pay back the government in terms of tax they ought to pay and that is the same law, the same policy that Dangote Group is applying. Every year, they declare tax and they, in this case, lend to government in advance.  It’s as simple as that and this should not arouse suspicion from any quarter,” he said.

The project which is expected to be completed within the next 12 months, without any option of asking for more time, is being received with guided optimism by stakeholders.

In his response, representative of NUPENG, Comrade Tayo Abioye, urged the contractor to help doing little palliative measure to make the road from Tin Can to Leventis motorable, assuring that tanker drivers will cooperate with the contractor in the course of project execution.

To get the trucks off the bridge during the period, he said most of the tankers were not coming to Lagos as a result of the law put in place by the Lagos State government.

However, the minister insisted that truck drivers should, as a matter of fact, look for an alternative parking space without all of them coming to the road at the same time. On this, the NUPENG officials assured that Ogere in Ogun State will be the next stop-gap for them.

It was also suggested that individual group should meet to fashion out the best way to tackle the problem and make recommendation to the appropriate authorities.