Hadiza identifies lack of efficient rail connectivity as bane of Lagos ports

By Dapo Olawuni |

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has decried poor rail connectivity to the Lagos ports which she said was a critical factor that has hobbled its efficiency and optimum utilisation.

As a result, she warned that no ports should be constructed without a linkage to the rail network for cargo evacuation.

Despite the NPA MD call, our correspondent noted that port users in Nigeria have expressed worries that the Tin Can Island Port, PTML terminal as well as other ports across Nigeria were not structured to be connected to the rail system.

According to the Ms Usman, rail transportation and linkages shall continue to play a crucial role to port operation, citing the example of the Nigerian experience where ineffective port railway infrastructure has affected effective port operations.

Hadiza Bala Usman was speaking in a welcome address at the beginning of the West Africa Rail Revolution Conference in Lagos yesterday, which drew participants from several European and West Africa countries.

“lf anyone had any doubts as to clog that poor railway infrastructure could be in the wheels of effective Port operations, the challenges that we currently face with the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) and the Tin-Can Island (TCIP) would instruct you about why no country would contemplate establishing Port without the complement of adequate Rail Transportation” she said.

“The truth is that a substantial part of the challenges that we face in the optimization of the ports in Lagos area which has even extended to distort normal activities of Lagos is because of the failure to provide adequate rail infrastructure in the first instance and the failure eventual dilapidation of the meagre structure that was available at the beginning” Hadiza added.

The NPA chief executive further stressed the need for operators of the ports across the African Continent to embrace the economic benefits of the sector as a key player in the growth and development of their country’s economies within the sub- Saharan Africa, adding that this would take place only through the collaboration in the sharing of experience at resolving complex issues.

She informed the delegates to the conference that the Federal Government was assiduously working towards a more efficient port terrane through the deployment of modern rail infrastructure and urged all the delegates should embrace the new agenda and explore all possible avenue towards taking it to the next level.

In his welcome address, Engineer Chidi. K. C Izuwah, Director General under the Presidency Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission while welcoming delegates to the 2-day event reiterated the need for African Countries to ensure that adequate provision is made in the area of port infrastructure.

According to him, the developed nations of the world have overtime placed emphasis on developing their infrastructure which would further enhance port operation and efficient terrace delivery across board.

The theme of the 2-day conference tagged “Defining the future of the transport infrastructure, maintenance and expansion in West Africa” drew participants of the Maritime sector within the continent of Africa and beyond.