The managing director, Nigeria Port Authority [NPA] Mallam Habib Abdulahi has described the heavy human traffic within the Lagos port axis as a major security challenge; even as he lamented that the human traffic within the port is unfriendly to port business.
The NPA boss who stated this when he visited the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) in Lagos yesterday added that the presence of too many people within the port area is also an eyesore, especially to foreign investors.
The managing director, Nigeria Port Authority [NPA] Mallam Habib Abdulahi has described the heavy human traffic within the Lagos port axis as a major security challenge; even as he lamented that the human traffic within the port is unfriendly to port business.
The NPA boss who stated this when he visited the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) in Lagos yesterday added that the presence of too many people within the port area is also an eyesore, especially to foreign investors.
However, acknowledging the efforts of NPA in reducing human traffic, he said ‘’we are also trying our best to ensure that security in our port become a thing of the past because it is only in this country that you find out that the northern part of the port is where you have businesses going on while the southern part of the port which is the opposite direction is an eyesore ‘’.
‘’The settlement directly opposite the port is an illegal settlement which is becoming a shanty town and it is very unfortunate to port business’’, he said.
He reiterated that the port environment is not friendly as a result of the influx of people within the port environment, adding that it is a key area for the government to address.
‘’We will pass the security challenge to the government so that they can take appropriate action at the port because this one major challenge we are facing that needs to be addressed”.
Abdulahi urged terminal operators to remove all abandoned vehicles within the port complex which according to him has created congestion at the ports.
He assured that the challenges with the port access roads would soon be a thing of the past, pointing out that it is going to be a gradual process.
But, the port manager, Lagos Port Complex (LPC} Mr. Joshua Asanga has however highlighted that against all predictions, there has been remarkable downturn in the volume of goods or imports being handed by the port.
LPC manager, who disclosed this while briefing the NPA managing director, also credited the dwindling cargo throughput to internal and external factors.
“It is baffling that volume is dropping even at a time when there is suppose to be an increase ‘’ he said identifying the internal factors to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fiscal policies mopping up.
Observing that the dwindling operational statistics may not indicate a direct reduction in goods imports into the country, the LPC boss noted that unlike in the past when the port handles containers, four others terminals at Tin Can are also handling containers now.
He indicated that the port was constantly adopting measures towards the quality of management as well as cargo security, adding that efforts to change the port fences to ISPS compliance requirement in addition to putting in place a book reading club to enable those who have studied management works to enlighten others.
Meanwhile, the management of the Greenview Development Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Dangote Group has urged the NPA to assist in making the rail line in the port to be functional.
The company Managing Director, Bukar Abba Isa stated this while welcoming NPA Managing Director to the terminal operators office.
Buka who explained that a functional rail system would enhance the performance of its terminal also called for the entrenchment of functional intermodalism, noting that if the rails and roads were viable sources of goods removal in the port, the distraction of good gathering would be reduced and thereby creating more rooms for operational efficiency.
He called for the development and completion of Berth 21, adding that if this was in place Greenview could use it for export commodities and thus boost the nation’s capacity as well as revenue.
He lamented the power situation in the country saying that Dangote Group was presently generating its own electricity, even as arrangements are in progress to produce its own fresh water.
He stressed the need for common functional user facilities adding that if this were done there would be significant improvement in service provision, customers’ satisfaction and corresponding increase in revenue.
He however pleaded with NPA management on the need to waive the expected some of money (royalty and fees) expected, calculated on the basis of their pledge of handling four metric tons of cargo as the terminal only handles 2 million metric tons per annum.
”One should not pay for what one has not earned”, he submitted, stressing that the terminal only handle two million metric tons because it deals with bulk cargo.
In his response, the MD disclosed that issues of fee waiver was beyond the competence of NPA and subsequently advised the Greenview to take the issue to the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).
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