NPA Says 50% Revenue Lost To Poor Ports Access Roads

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) yesterday lamented that the deplorable state of the access roads leading to the two major seaports in Lagos, namely: the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) and the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC) has negatively affected the ports’ revenue, resulting in a 50% drop.

Although no details of the revenue plunge were given, NPA top officials at the ports said the situation calls for national concern and urgent federal government intervention.

Although no details of the revenue plunge were given, NPA top officials at the ports said the situation calls for national concern and urgent federal government intervention.
This revelation was made by three top officials of the NPA during a working visit by the General Manager, Western Ports; Chief Michael Ajayi to Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.

While accessing the state of access road to Tin Can Island port, the General Manager also concurred, saying that the deplorable state of the roads to Lagos and Tin Can port has affected dwelling time of cargoes at the two ports.

Chief Ajayi said that the implication of the poor state of the road is already having a negative effect on the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the economy.

He said, "all the stakeholders are groaning on how to access the ports and even some of them resume work in Apapa at 1pm, which is not efficiency; we are expected to work for the highest level of efficiency and service delivery".

The General Manager added that ships’ waiting time and turnaround time as well as cargo dwelling time have all been negatively affected by the poor state of the ports’ access roads

"Even the revenue target from the customs, I doubt if they will meet it because of the roads", he added.

He said that there is need for the agency in charge of the roads to fix the roads, pointing out that it is the major artery to the largest port in Nigeria.

Speaking further, Chief Ajayi noted that the management of NPA can handle the situation at hand if given the opportunity, because the bad roads have affected port businesses tremendously.

He added that, "at the moment we are handicapped because it falls within the purview of the Ministry of Works and it is something that falls within the purview of FERMA".

He further described the Tin Can Island port access road as a disaster.

Also speaking, Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex,(LPC); Alhaji Lamina Abdulraman lamented that the situation at Tin Can Island port is similar to what is obtainable at both Wharf and Creek roads; the two routes to Apapa port.

According to him, the situation has also affected ships at berth, making it difficult for consignees to take delivery of consignments at the ports.

"Our revenue has fallen by 50%, the vehicles cannot take delivery and those that have already being in the ports cannot come out"

"This is very serious and that is why we are going around for him to meet with the management"

"All the palliative we are getting from our customers are no longer coming because they have done that in the past in order to proffer solution to the problem faced on the two roads linking the ports and that is the situation we have right now at Apapa", the port manager lamented.

On his part, the Port Manager Tin Can Island port; Mr. Babatunde Longe said that the poor conditions of the road is the major challenge being faced by the NPA at Tin Can Island Port, even as he added that with the rainy season, the situation has deteriorated.

"It is beyond Tin Can port capacity to fix the road because it is a road that belongs to the federal government and there is need for government to come to the agency's aid".

The new General Manager Western Port was at the PTML terminal, Five Stars Logistics Terminal, Ports and Cargoe Handling Services, Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) and Josep Dam Services, all at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
He had on Tuesday paid a similar visit to terminals at the Lagos Port Complex.