TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG DOCKYARD ROAD, APAPA, LAGOS

The perennial problem of traffic congestion along Dockyard road Apapa could not in any way be traced to NIPCO plc, a key operator in the Nation’s downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

The company owned by the myriad of Independent oil marketing companies under the aegis of Independent Petroleum Marketing Association of Nigeria and a core investor-. Pure bond U.K had indeed being in the forefront of free flow of traffic on the road.

Nipco plc had over its almost three years operation put in place on fool proof traffic management system taking into confidence its numerous publics especially the local chapter of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum & National Gas Workers (NUPENG), IPMAN, NAVY and the Nigerian Police among others.

The development which culminated into the setting up of a surveillance committee comprising the major stakeholders early this year has not only created conducive environment for depot activities but also ensures free passage of vehicular traffic along Dockyard Road, Apapa.

This feat was well acknowledged by the Minister of Transportation Chief Cornelius Adebayo who during a recent visit to tank farms in Apapa affirmed that the company not only possess adequate facilities for loading tankers but also good holding bays for trucks prior to loading.

According to him, these facilities accounted mainly for the smooth the flow of traffic on the road even as he enjoins other tank farm owners to emulate the company.,

It is against the foregoing that NIPCO plc condemns the recent accusation of some tank farm owners along Dockyard Road that the company is responsible for the traffic jam on the road which in most cases occur at the middle of the road where the four tank farms are located.

The concerned tank farms are A_Z Petroleum Limited, Eura Afric Oil and Gas, Hensmor Limited and Global Fleet Oil and Gas, all located on Dockyard road,

As against their insinuations on the matter, the operations of Nipco had no negative effect on traffic on the area instead it had impacted greatly on vehicular movement through the surveillance committee of stakeholders established to take care of the matter and other auxiliary things

Instead of cooperating with the committee which the zonal executives of NUPENG recently commended, these tank farm owners under the aegis of Petroleum Products Depot Owners (PPDO) erected a barrier gate on the road which had not only prevented
quick turn around of trucks coming to load in the terminal but also serve as check points by their local unions.

Several attempts by our in-house traffic team and the surveillance committee for an holistic remedy to the traffic jam especially at the tail end of the road had proved abortive as all measures proposed have always been viewed from a very parochial angle.

Nipco is indeed not after the business exploits of any tank farm operator along Dockyard road neither is it ready to work against any of them under any guise.

Even with several reports commending our facility by many stakeholders as been a terminal to behold, we have not under any pretext try to trample on any other tank farm operator along the road.

The company had instead remain resolute to its commitment of meeting the needs of all stakeholders in the deregulated downstream sector of the oil and gas industry by providing quality services in the petroleum product storage and handling in an environment that is friendly, safe and dignifying.

The assertion of the company been a good model among its peers by several private and public sector practitioners has remained a major impetus for the company to continue to set standards for other operators and not in any way opportunity to frustrate other tank farm owners especially our neighbors on the road.

We hereby state equivocally that Nipco by virtue of its indigenous ownership structure which made it the only company that provides the highest equity participation to indigenous oil marketers in the country is not after any rivalry nor interested in any rat race with other tank farm operators within the same axis at Dockyard road, Apapa.

Instead, we had continuously been harping on good neighborliness and this has accounted for why we have always been consulting other tank farm owners even on matters which we have exclusive hold on all in the sprit of engendering peaceful relationship among companies on the axis.

NIPCO is ever ready to continue its all inclusive style of engaging in meaningful consultation with all companies on the road on issues bordering not only on traffic management but also on safety, taking into cognizance the flammable liquid business it transacts on a daily basis.