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Council Seeks decongestion of Lagos Ports

By on January 3, 2015

In a bid to address the congestion in the nation’s seaports, especially the ones situated in Lagos, the Chairman of the Ports Consultative Council (PCC), Chief Kunle Folarin has called on the federal government to initiate measures and policies that will solve the problem.
One of the measures  through which this can be achieved, according to Folarin, is  the  expansion of the Lagos ports to accommodate more cargoes.
Folarin, who  stated this in a chat with reporters in Lagos, argued that there was the need to construct container berths and more stacking areas to accommodate what he called “the growing container trade”, across the globe.
According to him, the ports situated in Lagos, especially Tin Can Island port and Apapa Quay,  were overdue for expansion.
His words: “Over years, there had been constraints because land is inelastic and you cannot just add up plans when the need to be. We have gone from a position of 30 berths to 40 berths and up to 60 berthing positions. Nigerian ports are being allocated in the areas of container vessels, bulk carriers and also general cargo vessels.
“That immediately shows you that where there is expansion in a particular cargo characteristic, you must look for expansion to accommodate it. For example, container trade has grown up and we need to get more container berths, more stacking area in the port system. General cargo configuration has also changed. As we industrialise, we need to have more steel import.
“Therefore, there is a need to expand that particular facility for that type of cargo. Nigeria is a major importer of bulk wet cargo, petroleum products and the like. So the issue of port expansion is clearly on the table”.
Folarin described the Lagos ports corridors as “congested,” adding  that  three kilometres from the port corridor should be free of commercial activities.
He also called for the introduction of Greenfield port development programmes to ensure the sustainable development of the maritime industry in the years ahead.

 

[ThisDay]