Decongesting Nigeria

It is understood that unclaimed cargoes will be moved to a dedicated terminal in Ikorodu at the insistence of concessionaires as they increase port charges in line with the country’s inflationary trend.

At a meeting held last week, concessionaires are said to have highlighted problems requiring urgent solution, including the 100% examination by the Nigeria Customs, the inadequate scanning equipment and the long dwell time for cargoes at the ports.

Y Kotik, managing director of Tin Can Island Terminal told The Nigerian Guardian around 2,192 containers should be transferred to Ikorodu from his terminal alone.

He added that the long dwell time for the containers had required the full use of the terminal, which he said, should be under 70% utilisation in order to make way for new arrivals at any given time.

Apparently, other concessionaires who spoke at the meeting complained of insecurity at the port’s water front, inadequate scanner and pilotage services and low draft of some of the channels, especially in the Warri and Calabar ports.

It is understood that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) will now work with relevant agencies to determine port charges in line with inflationary trends.