A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF APAPA PORT ACCESS

A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF APAPA PORT ACCESS

Background To The Study

It's important to emphasize the importance of Apapa Creek Road. Any traffic congestion on it would undoubtedly cause several glitches in the logistics company, which is the primary operation on this route.

Creek road is a key thoroughfare that connects the prime Apapa port (Wharf) with one of Nigeria's international airports (Murtala Muhammad Airport, Ikeja), which are several kilometers apart.

This is one of the routes that contributes significantly to the federal government of Nigeria's financial stability (Scalt, 2018). It connects Tin Can Island Port, Conmaldi, and a few more container ports, as well as oil farm depots, along the route in terms of interconnectivity. The constant and persistent traffic congestion created by heavy duty shipments on it has had a significant impact on operations, since turnaround times for doing business on this corridor have been much longer than they should have been.

Several attempts have been made in the past and recently to find a long-term solution to this traffic problem, but no satisfactory solutions have been achieved. The majority of the government's efforts to address this issue have traditionally taken a Fire Brigade approach. Alternative routes and ways of transportation into and out of the port are urgently needed.

It is necessary to have a multi-modal transportation system. It is self-evident that traffic congestion is the most significant impediment to the development of the transportation/logistics industry, particularly in this region of the world. Its importance cannot be overstated, since every country is developing strategies and techniques to address the traffic problem.

 

Every day in Lagos, Nigeria, road traffic into and out of the port complexes becomes increasingly congested and dangerous. Due to the tiny number of automobiles on our roads in the past, road transportation was not a major issue. Many traffic concerns have arisen in recent years as the number of cars (automobiles and road vehicles) has increased (Scart, 2007). Due to the exceptionally high port-related activity in the region, Apapa, a city in Lagos State, will be the location and subject of this study (Ngi, 2019).

This increase in vehicular activity has resulted in traffic congestion and delays when entering or leaving Apapa, particularly during peak hours, necessitating a study of alternative modes of transportation and intersection management in the area to see how they fare in directing and controlling traffic, particularly how those intersections tend to reduce conflicts along Apapa's three major intersections - Liverpool Road, Point Road, and Wharf Road. An intersection is where two or more roads meet, and it is generally a source of conflict among cars since it is a designated place for vehicles to turn in different directions to reach their intended destinations. The primary purpose of junctions is to move cars traveling in opposite directions to their proper courses, enhancing safety, minimizing confrontations, and boosting traffic flow. Designing safe intersections is still a problem for junction engineers.

 

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The traffic issue into and out of the Apapa port complex is caused by a number of causes. One of these is the lack of holding bays, which is an unprofessional manner of conducting business in the maritime industry. Many shipping firms in the Apapa area do not have their own stemming ports or holding bays for export goods (Scalt, 2018). On the same route as the attempts to return empty cargo to the Apapa Port, this has become imperative. Another consideration is import/export profitability, which is used to determine the cost difference between import and export shipments and their economic effect, particularly in inland container depots (Scalt, 2018). In light of this, this study will look into factors such as the lack of holding bays for empty containers, unorganized parks by container trucks before proceeding to the port for loading and offloading, the impact of oil farms located along this corridor, the narrow nature of the road, particularly in the trucking of heavy duty shipments, and the lack of alternative transportation modes to the road in this area, all of which have helped to improve the current situation. On the other hand, the cumulative effect of this never-ending traffic congestion has a multi-faceted impact on the economic viability of logistics operations along this corridor.

Underutilization of the railway system, the Lagos Lagoonal System, and pipeline, along with an over-reliance on the road, has resulted in chronic difficulties on the road and its related infrastructures. Accidents, road disasters, traffic congestion, and robbery, among other things, define the road.

Apapa's multiple responsibilities as an industrial, economic, educational, administrative, and transportation center contribute to the terrible traffic condition. Furthermore, the city's geographic position, drivers' belligerent behavior, and the unexpected surge in automobile ownership as a result of improving living conditions, as well as the usage of trailers and tankers, have all contributed to exacerbating the situation.

Due to the fact that the Oshodi/ Apapa Expressway is the main artery in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, it is a major link to many inlets and outlets within and outside the metropolis, this rapid growth in the population of Lagos has exerted tremendous pressure on the existing deteriorating transport infrastructure in the study area (Nnamdi, 2010).

The traffic crossings in Apapa were planned nearly four decades ago and created no concerns at the time. However, the rise in vehicular activity - large trucks and autos - causes significant issues because capacity was not taken into account when certain road crossings were designed, resulting in major conflicts and delays for motorists. Increased commercial activity in Apapa has resulted in a massive influx in trucks, autos, and pedestrians, causing great challenges for road users who must struggle with roadways that were created decades ago. As the number of vehicles on the road rises, so do the conflicts at these junctions, resulting in delays, accidents, and the waste of man-hours that could have been better spent (Nnamdi, 2010).

The majority of Nigerian businesses rely on Nigerian seaports for the delivery of their goods and materials, and more than 90% of that traffic travels via Apapa, making Apapa a commercial hub. Although it goes without saying that logistics has a lot to do with time, the challenges generated by the inability of crossings in Apapa to evacuate cars faster are simply too much. On a very busy day, a truck may take up to twelve hours to drive into Apapa from Point Road intersection, then another twelve hours to accept delivery and escape through Point Road intersection or Liverpool.

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to critically evaluate accessibility to Lagos port. The objectives are to:

1. Determine the traffic characteristics;
2. Traffic congestion; and
3. Determine the points of conflicts in Apapa carry out traffic counts and determine its flow along these intersections.
4. Propose alternative modal choice at relieving the traffic madness in and out of Apapa.

1.4  Scope of the Study

The scope of this study is to evaluate the impact of traffic congestion impacts in Oshodi Apapa Express way, precisely at the axis of Toyota Junction/Ladipo Auto dealer Market/Airport Road. The research study seeks to evaluate the traffic congestion within this route, its attendant effects on road users' enroute Airport Road from Oshodi, Mushin and Apapa and possible solution to the problem. The scope of this study was limited to this part of Oshodi-Apapa expressway in Lagos Nigeria, this is as a result of the peculiar nature and state of the road and the kind of traffic generated on this road on daily bases. Basically, the study investigated issues arising from the objectives of the study, that is , the road condition, traffic conflict point, transportation and road intersection as well as various land use activities and socio-economic activities present along the corridor in terms of adjoining land uses that causes delay in traffic flow such as street trading, pedestrian movement, among others will be assessed, to ensure these activities do not obstruct the flow of traffic along the corridor any more.

1.5       Significance of study

The sustenance of a nation's economic growth hinges on unhindered free flowing, advanced and smart transportation systems.

The study would assist in alleviating the traffic congestion resulting from the neglect of other transport modes apart from road. This study would be relevant to city designers and engineers involved in the design of intersections, in that it would increase knowledge as to what is needed or the basic factors to be considered when designing intersections. This study will also increase knowledge to students who are interested in conflict resolution in Port Areas. The study will also be beneficial to drivers, especially motorists and pedestrians, to understand the causes of conflicts at intersection because 95% of those accidents are due to driver error and wrong perceptions of other road users.

Most importantly, it would be beneficial to business owners and logistic companies which will enable them carry out their business effectively and efficiently.

This study is also significant in that all road users would be equipped with a better understanding of the workings of intersections and this will go a long way in reducing conflicts and accidents.

1.6       Limitations of study

This study will concentrate on the causes of accidents and delays related only to conflicts that happen at the selected intersections and would not cover other causes of accidents in Apapa. The study will not go beyond the descriptions of conflicts at intersections in Apapa and the roles it plays in the movement of traffic.

1.7 Study Area

Lagos state is situated in the South Western Nigeria within latitude 602' N to 604'N and longitude 2045 E to 4020 E. The state is bounded form the North and East by Ogun State, in the West by the Republic of Benin and the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The total land mass of the state stretches over 3,345 kilometers with an estimated population of about 15 million. Apapa is the major port of the city of Lagos, Nigeria and is located to the west of Lagos Island, across Lagos harbor. It also one of Nigeria 774 local government areas. The study Area covers the distance between wharf Road and Warehouse Road, with geographical coordinate 6 27 N 3 22 E /6.450 N 3.367 E. the local government is bounded from the North by marine beach to include mobile offices and Ijora; while to the South by Atlantic Ocean, East by Lagos Lagoon, and West by Lagos Lagoon. The total landmass of the local government stretches over 38.5 kilometer.

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