The Chairman, Port Consultative Council of Nigeria (PCCN), Chief Kunle Folarin, has said that international trade could suffer as foreign shipping lines could place surcharge on Nigerian-bound cargoes.
Folarin stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The maritime expert said “ the long delays in vessel dwell time will increase the freight charges applicable to Nigerian-bound cargoes’’.
He explained that the perennial gridlock on access roads to the port would affect the Turn Around Time of vessels.
Folarin said the cargo delivery time would also be affected because trucks that would carry the cargoes would not be there on time.
The PCCN chairman said there would also be the danger of cargoes moving late in the night.
“International trade will suffer because they will place surcharge on Nigerian- cargoes if ships are delayed at ports due to long dwell time.
“The international implication as a result of constant gridlock will make Nigerian ports to be seen as inefficient and the cargo traffic coming to our ports will be low,“ Folarin said.
He suggested a marshalling point for trucks to avoid indiscriminate parking while looking for where to do business.
Folarin said there should be a call-up centre where only trucks that were needed would be allowed to enter the ports.
He said there was need for road expansion and creation of a by-pass for trucks going into Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.
Discussion about this post