The Executive Vice Chairman, Presidential Task Team on Restoration of Law and Order in Apapa, Comrade Kayode Opeifa has debunked the report by Daily Trust today July 20, 2020, that there is a total breakdown of law and order resulting into congestion on Apapa axis.
Opeifa said that the report lacks objectivity and didn’t reflect the true state of things in Apapa, adding that the authors failed to visit the Apapa to observe the flow of vehicles on the axis as confirmed by the stakeholders including those who live in Apapa area.
Reacting to the report titled: ” Vehicles spend months in a queue as Apapa congestion persists”, published in Daily Trust, Opeifa said that it was disheartening that the article failed to do due diligence by investigating the true happenings from the concerned stakeholders before the publication of the report.
He described the entire report as unfounded and misleading. He challenged the writer of the malicious report to come and show where congestion of trucks exist in Apapa and how the trucks queued for months before accessing the port as wrongly reported. According to Opeifa even the photo used to illustrate the story did not show any form of congestion.
Opeifa said that apart from the fact that views of the various stakeholders whose businesses have been positively impacted by the restoration of law and order on Apapa axis were not captured in the report, elated property owners who had hitherto abandoned their property before the president’s intervention were also curiously left out in the report.
The Executive Vice Chairman also faulted the report for failing to explain the role of ongoing construction in the movement into Apapa through the Tin Can end, saying contrary to the misinformation in the publication, more stakeholders are commending Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led presidential taskforce for the restoration of sanity which is responsible for the smooth traffic flow on the axis.
Opeifa said: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication in Daily Trust. Kindly disregard the headline and publication which we believe was a purposed publication as the pictures provided do not represent the story nor the story a true reflection of the headline.
“For the avoidance of doubt, find some pictures of Apapa Port access road.
For your further understanding, regular everyday video of the road to Apapa Port LPC from Eko Bridge to the Port gate. How come we still publish congestion causing months-long delay to the Port?
“How did time spent in their private parks same as congestion on the road? Trucks are called into the port when needed and container carrying trucks when there is space by the Terminal operator and NPA so they are not on the road. That is the international standard. How does that correspond to congestion on the road?”
Instead of misinforming the public, Opeifa said what Nigeria needs now is to join hands with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to fight corruption.
” The country needs the support of all to fight corruption not to encourage it. Go and check the statistics and figures from stakeholders, not unverified driver where they are to stage pending when needed. Talk to Terminal Operators, ENL, APMT, GDNL, TICT, Port and Cargo
Truck owners, not Truck movers. Continua, Amalgamated, Cotoan, NARTO, PTD not someone who has not a single truck. Manufacturers like Dangote, Flour mills, BUA, Honeywell, Standard flours who are stakeholders, these are the people whose views were not heard in the false report.
“The Nigerian public deserves fair reporting and support from an otherwise respected National newspaper like Daily Trust, not vilification and unfair headline which has always aggravated the situation rather than the desired intent of the article.
“We are available for genuine engagement. We don’t control cargo inspection and clearance among others but road access around the Port Logistics Corridor to all Lagosians, Apapa residents Port access among others,” Opeifa explained.
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