Shippers’ Council raises alarm over looming congestion in Lagos ports

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (ES/CEO), of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC),  Barrister Hassan Bello has decried the looming congestion in the port as a result of the partial closure of land borders.Bello said that the cargoes that are supposed to go through the land borders are now diverted to the seaports thereby leading to higher cargo throughput in the ports.

He said this at the stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Council in Lagos, Tuesday.

Bello who was represented at the meeting by Mr. Akintunde Makinde, Director, Inland Transport Service of the Council, said the event was organized to find a lasting solution to the perennial gridlock.

“In our task of improving and increasing efficiency in our ports, I am seeking your support in this new year,

“We have a looming congestion at our Lagos ports, this is partly occasioned by closure of our land borders which has caused the problem.

“The cargoes diverted from borders are coming in through the seaport this has shot up the throughput in the ports suddenly,” he said.

In her welcome speech, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman said that the issue of the gridlock is a problem to all stakeholders in the port environment.

She added that the agency is seeking a permanent solution to the menace, hence the interaction with the people.

Usman who was represented at the gathering by Alhaji Umar, Manager, Tincan Island Port said, “The issue of gridlock is a concern to any stakeholder. We are looking forward to a permanent solution that will put an end to the problem.

“You know it has to do with the issue of ongoing road construction, issue of trucks not following due process and many other things,” he said.