• Stakeholders Express Worry, Task Govt On Ports’ Efficiency

• Fear Grip Importers Over Imminent Delay Of Cargoes

• More Vehicles Imported Through Seaports

Barely five days after the complete closure of Nigerian borders, there are palpable fears that the increasing volume of cargo to the seaports may worsen the congestion phenomenon.

Already, port operators have confirmed increased patronage, but there are rising concerns that the prevailing challenges at the seaports may hamper swift cargo clearance and evacuation.

The Guardian investigations revealed that many of the terminals in Lagos ports are currently experiencing congestion, with about 80 percent of the freight belonging to government agencies. The situation may worsen, as more ships are expected to berth in the coming weeks.

President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Increase Uche, told to The Guardian, yesterday, that with the border closure, adequate plans must be made for an efficient port system to avoid the looming congestion.

He said: “The unfortunate aspect of the closure is that importers that earlier planned for their goods to arrive neighbouring ports will now have to re-route them to Nigerian ports, prompting the question of our capability to cope with the increased volume, considering the congestion already witnessed in the ports.

“There are strong indications that the massive routing of cargoes will compound the congestion in the ports. So, in the next one month or thereabouts, the congestion in the ports will increase and that is a very bad omen,” he said.

Uche said the government needs to do something fast, stressing that, “now that borders are closed, the seaports, which are also entry points, should be made efficient. They should ensure that businesses in the ports are not hindered in any way.

“We need to know that there were reasons why people diverted their cargoes to ports in neighbouring countries, which simply has to do with the unfriendliness of our ports and the high-handedness of government officials, terminal operators, and shipping companies,” he said.

Uche added that the high local shipping charges and inefficiency at the ports compounded issues that made the nation witness low patronage over time.

“As it is now, the government should look into those problems and find a lasting solution,” he said.

He, however, confirmed that the policy on motor vehicle import has revived the ailing RoRo terminals in the ports. “One thing that the government has done that is worth commendation is the restriction of cars from passing through land borders. Now, we have more cars coming through the seaports. That policy has helped us to revive our RoRo ports, which were about dying.

They have started witnessing increased patronage,” he said. General Manager of PTML Terminal, Tunde Keshinro, recently confirmed that vehicular imports at the port have gone up by an average of 25 percent since August when the borders were partially closed.

He said, “Import statistics have recorded steady growth since the beginning of the year, and it has been a positive trend until date at PTML Terminal. This has also reflected in the Customs Command’s revenue profile.”

President, Shippers’ Association, Lagos State, Jonathan Nichol, said although the NPA has denied that the ports were congested, the rising cargo volume would surely trigger congestion if urgent measures were not taken.

Nichol, who told The Guardian that more vehicles were coming in through Apapa and Tin Can port, emphasised the need to improve ports’ infrastructure, particularly access roads and the cargo scanners.

He said: “The performance of 100 per cent physical examination in our ports is old fashioned. In most countries, those goods are scanned before they leave their port of origin. So, why can’t they bring the documents to Customs for verification? Besides, why can’t we fix our own scanners here to fast-track the process?

“Another key issue is the poor access roads to evacuate these cargoes. Unfortunately, even with the bad roads, some Customs’ officials still waylay those transporting these goods about 15 kilometres away from the ports complex and claim that what was done inside the ports was wrong. They will then begin to cross-check the cargoes afresh, and thereafter conclude that duties were not duly paid. How many times are we supposed to pay duty on one consignment? This is very discouraging and must stop because it is not done anywhere else. We are working for the economy to grow, so the Customs should stop treating us as enemies,” he said.


Nichol continued: “It’s not too good for us to shut our borders against our neighbouring countries. Borders points should only be shut over major security issues, not because of the importation of rice, or other food items. The rice that is being imported is being consumed by Nigerians because some are of the opinion that most locally produced rice is of low quality,” he said.

https://m.guardian.ng/news/border-closure-may-worsen-ports-congestion/


Lalasticlala

But they said the closure can only be temporary...

.... Hmmm

Too many pressure on buhari to open the border

The border closure is an example of "No pain No gain "

Border closure is the way to go

It has already. For the past 1 month, shipping companies in china have not loaded containers. They are waiting till end of this month to load. It now takes over 100 days for shipping and clearing. Anything you import from Asia now, will get to you next year.

Off topic:

Everything about Nigeria is totally strange and different from other countries.

What's so difficult about using a van to transport the poor escaped Kano lion back to its cage instead of using wheelbarrow.

What if the lion regain its conscious in the process.

Here are immediate solutions to Ports’ Congestion:

1. Streamline and fast track clearing process.

2. Make use of our new Inland Dry Ports. Importers can go there and clear their containers too.

Unless our neighbours take steps to help fight illegal dumping of substandard goods in Nigeria, nobody should cajole Nigeria into policy that harms our people.

This is a positive problem
Just kick start all those dry ports and channel some of them there to be cleared.

I see this as more money to Federal Government.

I stand with the border closure.

What a country

One thing is certain the government didnt thoroughly think this through i they had all would have been put in place to make this border closure a success for now the problems created outweighs the gains

Why will it worsen it...all we have to do is to concentrate 70% work force of the customs at the border to the port finish

L

Sure we know.

Let the ports be congested

Nigeria government don't profer solution to issues until it starts affecting revenue generation.

This is what is called good problem.

The border remain closed QED!!!

You don't just wake one morning and close border.

Consider the pros and cons. How will the closure affect you? Benefit you?


Think! Use your head, it's not illegal yet!


By the way, I run Promotions for businesses to get more patronage on social media check my signature

Buhari doesn't know this

meanwhile

Some are smiling and some crying but anything that favors the growth of this country is all we need now to move from weak state Nigeria currently in.

Does that mean there would be need for more hands ?

Zoogeria

You are right sir

onlyonechid84:
The border closure is an example of "No pain No gain "

You are right.
If not for anything I am very happy that Ghanians are weeping more than Benin and Niger Republic since the border was temporarily shut down. Ghanians can go and commit suicide dem go sabi their boss now
God bless Buhari !
Cc: just30

the border closure is one bold step, it gives one hope that one day Nigerian leaders will wake up to their responsibilities, God bless our president for this border closure

Leave am. Borders will remain closed. There are several ports and more ports are under way in Lagos, Ondo, South-East and South-South to take of legal imports and exports.

Buhari should just close Nigeria

They should move their cargoes to other port, we have the Onne and Port-Harcourt ports in Rivers State, the Warri Port, and the Calabar Port. Must every ship berth in Lagos?