ANOZIE EGOLEWhen the Nigerian Ports Authority granted port concessions in 2006, the idea was to boost efficiency, bring sanity to the ports, and generate more revenue for the government. But 16 years down the line, the purpose of that move seems defeated. The inefficiency of the concessionaires has led to the unavailability of holding bays for empty containers.
In Nigeria today, the greater percentage of international trade is routed through the sea, and given Nigeria’s huge population, it is believed that the economy controls over 70 per cent of all seaborne trade in the West African sub-region. Hence, the country’s ports are increasingly challenged to meet the pressure mounted by the movement of ships and cargo in and out of the ports.
Many experts, including foreigners, lauded the move by the Obasanjo-led federal administration as so many predicted efficiency of port services, having in mind that the nation was tagged the West Africa’s maritime hub. The Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Remy Ogungbemi, in a chat with our correspondent, said, “We have been speaking with them about that and there have been some adjustments, though the problems are still there. All I know is that we are trying to see how they can stop using our trucks as holding bays for their empty containers but I believe there is hope because Rome was not built in a day.
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Source: GuardianNigeria - 🏆 1. / 94 Read more »