Why seaport operations appear ‘inefficient,’ by terminal operators

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Guardianng June 23, 2021 4:27 a.m.

Why seaport operations appear ‘inefficient,’ by terminal operators

He observed that some of the internal roads within the Port Complex are in a state of disrepair, but assured that the Authority, in concert with other relevant agencies of Government and the National Assembly would mobilise resources as soon as possible to fix such roads.

While visiting the Sunrise Bus-Stop area of the Apapa – Mile 2 highway that had become a failed passage, he noted that the poor road situation within this corridor (the major artery in and out of the Tin Can Island Port) remains a huge concern to NPA.

Akinola said the fact that the roads were cleared and rid of the notorious traffic anytime President Muhammadu Buhari visited Lagos “shows that security operatives know what to do to deliver us all from the pains we suffer daily from the gridlock.” He said: “In 2019, when the president visited Lagos, the otherwise intractable Apapa gridlock disappeared.

We cannot control the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of managing traffic on the road.” He said terminal operators, more than any other entity in the logistics chain, do bear the brunt of the Apapa traffic congestion because it hampers the evacuation of cargo from the port.

“A few days ago, the Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko said NPA counted about 30 checkpoints mounted by security and traffic management officials on the roads in Apapa.“The truth is that those who mount these illegal checkpoints are profiting from the chaos they deliberately create.

He said terminal operators, like other business entities in Apapa, are victims of the “dysfunctional state and chaos” on the port access roads.

Spokesman, STOAN, Dr.

Bolaji Akinola, in a statement, disclosed that the major challenges facing port operations in the country are dilapidated port access roads, poor traffic management and manual examination of cargo by Customs.

He said the ports have become much more efficient than they were before the 2006 port concession, “but those who thrive in chaos desperately want to cast aspersion on the concession exercise because orderliness does not benefit their pockets”.

“It should be noted that the problem with the roads leading into and out of Apapa is caused by bad roads, numerous checkpoints mounted by security agencies and rickety trucks.

Meanwhile, Bello-Koko, during on-the-spot assessment visit to the TinCan Island Port highlighted some impediments to the smooth flow of traffic and effective security, within and around the port complex.

Meanwhile, Bello-Koko, during on the spot assessment visit to the TinCan Island Port Complex highlighted some impediments to the smooth flow of traffic and effective security, within and around the port complex..

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