For those who had cause to transact businesses in Apapa area of Lagos about six years ago, it was a difficult place to get office and residential accommodations.
This was because, apart from its nearness to the nation’s major seaports, Apapa also has some oil tank farms.
As a result of the fact that some ship owners and other players in the nation’s maritime industry need to hang around days to get their businesses sorted out at the ports, there was need to look for offices, warehouses and hotels around Apapa to cater for these needs.
Even in terms of revenue to the government, Apapa local government stood tall as one of the cash cows for the state and as such, elections into the local government were usually very keen.
Today, it is not only the government that is losing revenue in Apapa, property owners are also feeling the pain. A random survey has shown that more than 40 per cent tenants in the area have fled as a result of the menace of tanker and container vehicle drivers.
Agreed that oil tank farm owners are daily smiling to the banks, as customers for their products continue to terrorise Apapa residents, the fact is no sane government will allow itself to be at the mercy of certain irresponsible corporate citizens. I took a walk in some areas of Apapa last week and I could not help but feel sorry for our generation. Apart from the closure of corporate outlets like bank branches, supermarkets, eateries and electronic shops, nightlife in Apapa has grounded to zero.
Popular nightclub in Apapa, Monalido has since folded up, while a branch of GTBank on Creek road has been shut down. Even, services in some few organisations on the road, including the Niger Biscuits have been significantly cut down as tanker drivers maintain a permanent position on the road stretching from Liverpool to Apapa Wharf.
Interestingly, the chaos has become a cash cow for the `’gang`’ of security men posted to maintain peace as they openly collect tips from the drivers after which they (the security men) close their eyes to the nuisance on the road.
I hope that one day, someone close to President Buhari will call his attention to the crisis in Apapa, the maritime gateway to the Nigerian economy.
Be the first to comment