Importers threaten to boycott Lagos ports

Motor vehicle importers have threatened to boycott Tin Can, Apapa ports over poor facilities, saying they were not happy with the sorry state of the Lagos ports.

They said despite the geometric increase in the amount they pay in clearing their vehicles from the ports, there has not been any corresponding development in the port.

Speaking with The Nation in Lagos, Managing Director, Bolas Motors, who is also spokesman　 of the vehicle importers, Mr Sesan Abolarinwa, bemoaned the sorry state of the road at the ports.

He scored the Federal Government low because of its failure to keep her own side of the agreement with the concessioners.

After concesioning the ports, Elias said the Federal Government has not developed new initiatives in ports development so that the facilities at the nation’s seaports can compete favourably in the West and Central Africa sub-regions.

‘‘Majority of us are not happy with the sorry situation of the Lagos ports despite the huge amount of money we are paying in clearing our vehicles. If by the end of of June, there is no major improvement in the ports in terms of constructing common users ‘road, fixing electricity and reduction in the number of government agencies with overlapping functions at the ports, our members would not hesitate in diverting our vehicles to the ports of neighbouring countries.

‘‘The implication of that is that the rate of car smuggling may increase and government may have to spend a lot of money in tackling the problem,’’ Abolarinwa said.

Managing Director, Lusehun Motor, Mr Yakub Elias, also said it was inevitable for the government to invest in the new port facilities to cope with the increasing cargo traffic and port congestion.

He said the failure of the government to put part of the money generated from the port was the major problem.

‘‘Ports serve the national interest, supporting the competitiveness of national and regional economies. It is in the nation’s interest that our ports remain able to handle cargo trade and its potential development efficiently and sustainably.

‘‘The government must succeed not only to meet the immediate demands of investors, operators and stakeholders, but also to invest in new facilities, in safety, and to safeguard port users, and the environment,” he said.

Maritime industry, he said, faces rising expectations, not only from users, but also from local communities and the public.

‘‘Nigerians and foreign investors are looking for a more open and accountable approach from the government and the concessioners entrusted with legal duties and powered to run our ports.

Source : The Nation