By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation and expansion of Nigeria’s eastern ports as part of efforts to improve port efficiency, stimulate economic activities in the region and reduce congestion at the Lagos ports.
Afolabi made the appeal while receiving the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, during a courtesy visit to the SIFAX Group headquarters in Lagos.
According to him, years of inadequate attention to ports in the eastern corridor have negatively affected the country’s maritime operations, resulting in the over-concentration of cargo traffic at Lagos ports.
He noted that economic activities at Nigerian ports continue to grow annually, with the bulk of such activities concentrated in Lagos, thereby placing enormous pressure on existing infrastructure.
Afolabi urged the Federal Government to extend its ongoing port modernisation efforts to ports in the eastern region, particularly those in Warri, Onne and Calabar.
He stressed the need for dredging works at the ports to enable them to accommodate larger vessels safely, adding that such a move would help redistribute cargo traffic and reduce congestion at the Lagos ports.
The maritime investor also expressed concern over the persistent traffic gridlock along the Tin Can Island Port corridor, describing it as a major challenge for businesses and transport operators.
According to him, the road infrastructure serving the port corridor was not designed to handle the current volume of traffic, resulting in delays, increased logistics costs and reduced operational efficiency.
Speaking during the visit, Ukeyima commended Afolabi and SIFAX Group for their contributions to the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He described the company as one of the country’s foremost maritime investors and noted that its investments across various segments of the maritime value chain have contributed significantly to economic growth and job creation.
The NSC boss pledged continued collaboration between the council and SIFAX Group in efforts aimed at advancing the growth and competitiveness of the nation’s maritime industry.
