Automation ,panacea to Apapa Traffic Gridlock - Operator

A frontline Logistics Expert, Eric Opah has urged the Federal Government to automate the nation’s seaport for greater efficiency.

Opah disclosed this recently in Lagos in a chat with newsmen.

He said clearing agents and importers should be able to do cargo clearance without getting to the seaport at the snap of a finger.

The logistics expert who is also the Managing Director of Fortune Global Shipping and Logistics Limited also charged the government to develop new seaport and expand existing infrastructures in the seaport.

His words, “The port is congested and i have mentioned that the road infrastructure and the facilities around the port is not anything that can be found anywhere in the world. The port is the ‎gate way to lot of resources to the country and I think the port should be expanded if it can be and the effort of developing the new Port for it to come into full stream and attention should be made.

“The ports are getting congested. It is not automated yet and customs clearance cannot be done at the snap of the fingers the way it is done elsewhere.”

Opah also queried why the eastern ports that was supposed to decongest the Lagos seaport was not dredged for vessels to call.

“What is the reason why Calabar Port cannot be dredged and why is cargo going down South come through Lagos Port? What is happening to Warri ports? If the Lagos road is repaired it will go bad in the next three years because the volume of cargoes going into Apapa port is mind blowing when we have Warri, Calabar Port that are not utilised.

He stated further that citing tank farms along port access road is another challenge fueling gridlock on the roads.

“We will continue to experience challenges especially because of tank farms scattered around the port axis which is like the port sitting on keg of gun powder. We have people living in area earnmarked for port use.

“The port area such as the adjoining facilities close to the port should be for port infrastructure and facilities and a lot still need to be done about the port and the mean of Transportation such as rail need to be encouraged.”

The shipping expert also disclosed the role played by the company in the clearance of the Egina FPSO into the country.

“Well as you know we have taken a centre stage in oil and gas energy logistics and since the beginning of the project we ‎handled the inward clearance of Egina FPSO which is a delicate asset.

“The performance of the inward clearance is important to see that all the documentation is done correctly in such a manner that it appeal to our customer. It is done correctly that no wrong declaration and the declaration are made in such a way that it is very easy that when FPSO sails, our customers won’t have any problems with regulatory authorities. We brought all authority like Customs, NIMASA, NPA, DSS, immigration among others to ensure that the documentation are done correctly.”