LCCI Seeks FG’s Intervention on Dilapidated Wharf-Apapa Road

By Peace Obi

The Professional Practice Group (PPG) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has condemned the dilapidated state of the roads within the country’s busiest water Port area, describing it as a threat to businesses located around the area.

The Chairman of the PPG, Mr. David Bawa, who stated this during the group’s courtesy visit to THISDAY corporate office in Lagos, noted that Apapa, which used to be a business hub for different sectors of the economy, is today a shadow of itself. According to him, the PPG being an advocacy group within the LCCI wants to initiate a relationship with THISDAY Newspaper to continually push for right policies and societal reform.

Speaking on the various advocacy programmes the group had undertaken and the successes recorded, Bawa noted that his group has been in the forefront for port decongestion and port reform, which he said was ongoing.

While calling for government’s intervention on the state of the roads in Apapa, he said: “Port activities are tools of economic growth and development and if stifled, it will have adverse effect on the economy and the people. We believe that a symbiotic relationship can be built between your organisation and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, using this platform to continually put pressure on government to come up with the right policies that can translate to economic growth and general wellbeing of the people.”

He welcomed the federal government’s plan to introduce a flexible foreign exchange policy, saying there was the need for the CBN to give further clarification on what it describes as a special window for physical transactions.

Also speaking at the event, the Head, Editorial Board of the group, Mr. Obiora Osokolo, blamed the state of the nation on the lack of clear cut policies on critical areas that could lead to productivity, growth and development. He said that government’s inefficiency over the years has not only negatively affected private business but has also affected government revenue generation.

According to him, with the bad roads in Apapa and workers spending hours in traffic, workers would invariably become inefficient and unproductive, while business establishments struggle to survive rather than focusing on expansion, development and diversification.

Welcoming the PPG team, the Deputy Managing Director, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, who led the team of management staff to receive the visitors, assured them of THISDAY Group’s commitment to seeing positive change through government intervention in its immediate business environment.

According to Komolafe, the situation affects the newspaper house and its workers in many ways – insecurity, declining revenue, among others.