*To establish Truck Parks
12 July 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja —THE Federal Government yesterday expressed concern over the rate of road accidents and loss of cargo occasioned by bad roads and has commenced moves to establish Truck Transit Parks, TTP, across major cities in Nigeria.
Disclosing this at the opening of a two-day National Summit on ‘Establishment, Management and Operation’ of Truck parks, Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi said that environmental degradation is another negative impact of excessive usage of the roads by heavy duty vehicles.
Amaechi explained that providing this critical infrastructure will enhance trade across Nigerian.
He said “The Federal Government plans over the next couple of years to develop Truck Transit Parks at Lokoja in Kogi State, Obollo-Afor in Enugu State, Ogere in Ogun State, Jebba in Kwara State and Port Novo Creek in Lagos State as an alternative strategy to address the menace of truck congestion at the seaports in Apapa and Port Harcourt.
“These are meant to complement the Ore Sunshine in Ondo State and the ones being processed by the Kaduna State Government at the Mararaban –Jos, and Tapa on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
“The Federal Government shall ensure that TTP projects independently developed by state governments and private investors meet a minimum standard in the number of facilities provided at TTP sites.
“The Federal Government shall also ensure that the TTPs are economic and business hub creating wealth and employment for our teeming population particularly the youths”.
Similarly, Minister Power, Works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said that if the activities of these big vehicles are not well managed, they will become a big menace to the society.
Fashola also disclosed the Federal government in a bid to curb the menace of the Heavy Duty Vehicles, HDVs, at the Apapa-Tin-Can area of Lagos embarked on the construction of a 340 HDV capacity Trailer Park opposite Tincan Port.
He said “The trailer park which is first of its kind in Nigeria, is expected to be completed within the 2017 fiscal year.
“The park when completed is expected to decongest the area and improve economic activities.”