Gani Adeola (PRO, ANLCA at PTML)
Gani Adeola (PRO, ANLCA at PTML)
In my opinion, we don't need those ICD's, Nigeria is not yet matured to that level, how will they be able to transfer containers down to the areas where the ICDs are located? Our rail system is so bad and the roads are so porous, coupled with the insecurity, it is only in developed countries that ICD can be maintained properly where the security is certain and the roads are well organized. It is the Federal Government that must be blamed for the failure of the project in Nigeria, because if you concession a place to somebody and he refuses to develop it, there should be question and answers, Federal Government is our father, and if money is not released to contractors to begin a project, I don't see how it can take-off.
Owolabi Omotayo (Water Transporter)
People have to be sincere and all infrastructures have to be put in place at these terminals; policies must be put in place that immediately containers arrive at the port, they should be evacuated immediately from the port to those inland container depots for onward clearing instead of experiencing congestion at the port and congesting the roads. Also if there is no interest to develop these ICDs, they become moribund, investors must be reassured of government's gazetted policy that once the containers get to the port, they will be evacuated immediately, if this happens, there will be improvement and this will create space at the ports. I think we are matured enough to have this, all it takes is to accelerate action on the rail construction.
Bolade Lawrence (ANLCA, Headquarters)
Ideally, the ICD is supposed to be a sort of buffer to the regular terminals, but what really happens is that some of the terminals that are supposed to send containers to these ICDs want to monopolize the market and their gains; they will refuse to send the containers. Our ports are supposed to be a transit area from where cargoes are sent to ICDs or to off-dock terminals, but today, most of the terminals will want to warehouse the containers because they want to collect demurrage and other charges. I think the problems is that the terminal operators are the ones frustrating the effective take off of the ICD because they don't want to transfer containers there, unless there is a proper arrangement or legislation to force terminals to operate as transit area, without this, they will not encourage the ICD. Government have good intention by creating the ICD, if there is one at Ibadan, an importer does not need to come to Lagos before clearing his goods, but because of the monopoly of the terminal operators, there should be an organ of government that would penalize them or force them to transfer containers to ICD, if this is not done, the ICD"s will die off.
Fred Adjuzie (Chairman, Apapa NAGAFF)
The take-off is not the issue with the ICD, it is the politics about the project that is affecting it, there are certain charges they are asking those who own the ICDs to bring and which they are not able to afford, therefore, taking containers to these areas have become impossible. There are certain things underneath the ICD project which is not being revealed, even if the NPA and Customs signed and have agreements, it is still difficult for terminal operators to transfer containers.
Ben Ndee (NCMDLCA)
For an ICD to be effective, I think the rail lines must also be effective, thus the Nigerian Railway Corporation must live up to its billings. There must be rail lines that will connect all the Inland Container Depots in question. Without a proper railway structure in place, it will be difficult to get an efficient ICD, the bulk of the blame should go to the federal government because it is through rail that we can move volumes of tonnage to the ICD.
Emmanuel Offiong (Stakeholder)
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the ICDs are viable for optimal use. They are the one hindering the project from all indication; whether directly and indirectly. There is the need for the government to focus more in the transport sector because from all indications the projects are mere white elephant projects.
Pius David (Stakeholder)
There is no community that wouldn't want to see development or get employment for its youths. In my own opinion, I think the bulk of blame should stop on the table of the federal government, because if you say is the Nigeria Shippers’ Council then my take is that the council is under the ministry of transport of the federal government. We will have to put all the blame to the right source and allow every party to do their own parts.
Adebowale Atoloye (Freight forwarder)
There is the need for the federal government to come out and tell Nigerians why the ICDs are being delayed. The ICDs have so many potentials in the area of employment and community development in all the places they are located in Nigeria. The truth is that it is the federal government that is responsible for the present conditions of those ICDs across the six geo – political zones in the country and the earlier they realise it the better for everyone.
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