Dangote group loses N2bn monthly to Apapa-road gridlock

The Management of Dangote Group yesterday said that the Sugar and Salt section of the company was losing about N2 billion monthly to traffic gridlock on the Wharf road-Coconut expressway.

Both the Wharf Road and the Coconut expressway are the two main access roads to Nigeria’s main sea ports.

Though, the Wharf road is currently being rehabilitated, but the traffic into the ports had left bitter taste in the mouth of stakeholders.

The Traffic Manager, Dangote Group, Mr. Mohammdu  Rabiu, made this revelation at a Stakeholders meeting called at the instance of the Western Naval Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Navy. The meeting was meant to find a lasting solution to the chaotic traffic situation in the area.

Rabiu in his presentation disclosed that the company was losing about N2 billion monthly as a result of its inability to lift products from its depot in the port.

He said that both the sugar and salt units of the company have a specific capacity of products which their produce daily.

He explained that the company was losing so much because of its inability to lift products as a result of the traffic congestion.

He said that this accounts, in no small measures are the loses recorded by Dangote sugar and salt monthly.

He said: “It is affecting our businesses and our operations at the port.”

Rabiu who refuted the claims that Dangote trucks were among those constituting nuisance on the Roads in Lagos, said that the transport unit of the company on,y sent out specific number of trucks that have business to do in the port.

He said: “Today there is no linkage road going from either mile 2 to the seaports or from Wharf to Apapa. We send about 40 trucks daily to our depot but they have to remain on the bridge pending when they have access to the ports.

Any single truck seen on the road is needed in the port. You will never see repair work being done on Dangote truck by the side of the road on or the bridges.”

Those present at the meeting are the Navy, Army, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transport, police, officials of the Lagos Stats Traffic Management Agency (LASMA), NUPENG, and Apapa Local Government officials

Credit:  Dailytrust