Akanni Balogun (ANLCA, Tin Can)
Port concession has been a high success because prior to the port reform, if you are working in the port you will remember sadly the challenges we usually go through with the NPA; that time, if you have a container discharged at the ship side, for the next three weeks you will not be able to carry it, because it would be block stacked, if you want to bring out one container, they can ask you to bring N20,000. I have witnessed it at Tin Can and Apapa port. But immediately after the concession, if your vessel lands the port today, you can get your container examined in the next three days, and if you pay your dues on time, you can get your container out of the port within five days. We have to credit the government for bringing about the port concession; it has been a huge success. However, there is still room for improvement so that we can pick our containers out in 24hours, there should be a one-stop-shop whereby we can pay all port charges in one place, this will bring down the number of days wasted at the port.
Chief Lexy Nwagwu (Freight Forwarder)
If you are using the NPA to determine if the concession has been a success or not, then we can agree it has been a success, because when NPA was managing the ports, there is so much dirt and grease inside the ports, so much so that in one week, your shoes will get spoilt, but today you can eat in the port. But overall, the concessionaires have been doing things without due process, they don't follow our laws especially in increasing their rates, they don't get in touch with the stakeholders as required by the law. They claimed that they are expanding, but we have never seen where they have expanded to, there has not been any new thing added to the port, it is only PTML that has expanded so far. In my opinion, port concession has not been a total success, but it is better than NPA managing the port.
Rev. Nichodamus Odollo (Vice President, Shippers Association)
It all depends on the angle you are reviewing the 10-year old concession, for the concessionaires that are celebrating, there is a reason for them to celebrate, they have made so much money. But to us as shippers, it has not been a success, we are paying more than what we usually paid when NPA was in charge, there is no service rendered for most of their charges, so what are we celebrating? Sometimes, you as a shipper is ready to take delivery of your cargo in 24hours but they terminal operators are unable to deliver to you and yet you will be forced to pay the demurrage accrued on the delay, meanwhile they are the ones that supposed to pay me for wasting my time, the situation is like a big fish eating the small ones. Most Nigerian shippers do not have the time to stand up and fight for their right, they believe that whatever they pay at the ports would be recovered from the consumers, this is wrong, it is the main reason why goods are expensive in the market, shippers should learn to fight for their right.
Dr. Felix Obvude (Former NPA boss)
Encouraging as the successes recorded from port concession may sound; some stakeholders say it has been eroded by excessive port charges, abuse of concession agreement, introduction of high charges, cargo insecurity and damage, undue delay in cargo clearance and general oppressive policies and practices in the port. In an effort to remedy this worrisome situation, the Federal Government appointed the Nigerian Shippers Council as interim economic regulator in 2014; however this mandate has met with its own challenges- the vacuum created by the absence of a legal framework to govern the port concession has given room for the abuse of the concession agreement. Proposed bills like the Ports and Harbours Bill, the National Transport Commission Bill are yet to be enacted, 10 years after concession.
Stanley Ezenga (PRO NAGAFF)
Port concession is a success but the problem is that nobody can see the future because before the ports were concessioned, we know the inherited problems at the ports which are namely -turnaround time for ships and cargo throughput. Now when the ports were concessioned the investors came with loads of promises that before now a lot of things would have been in place but we know that they must have done there feasibility study before embarking on the concession project. Going by my own assessment, we can say there is a lot of improvement in port concession in the last 10 years.
Abdullahi Inuwa (Vice Chairman Dry Cargo, NARTO)
Yes, the concession has brought about good success to the country and other business activities at the seaports in general. Fair enough, port concession has created an avenue where cargoes don't spend much days at the ports/terminals. Unlike when it were directly under NPA management there was much delay in the clearance of goods from the ports. The movement of trucks then were restricted, but today trucks can now go to the port load and come out in less than 30 minutes if the clearing document is ready, unlike before where truck will enter the port loaded as earlier as 9,00am, but cannot leave on till the evening, but I will submit by saying it is a blessing and never a curse.
Tunji Obagbo (POTEMAN)
Port concession has been a major success in the country, because it has led to competition among the terminal operators which was not there 10 years ago. Compare to when NPA was in charge, you will agree with me that the ports were just like market place, but today there is some level of sanity in the ports. We can see that port concession has led to indigenous operators competing with foreign investors; which is a success to the maritime sector and the Nigerian economy.
Barrister Osuala Nwagbara (Maritime Lawyer)
Port concession in the last 10 years has recorded tremendous success and as you can see that the volume of cargoes that pass through Nigerian ports have increased ,cargo throughput has increased, the ship turnaround time has also improved significantly. Cargo dwell time has improved and the ports have recorded some level of efficiency and even in the volume of trucks that enter and exit the ports (before the current FOREX policy that has crippled the Nigeria economy) also increased. However there are areas that need to be addressed.
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