A shipper, Mr Jonathan Nicol, has urged the Federal Government to dredge the Escravos channel leading to Warri Port to allow large ships to sail into the port.
He told newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday that the draught of the Escravos channel could no longer accommodate large ships, adding that it could only accommodate trawlers.
Nicol, who is also the General Secretary of Shippers’ Association of Lagos State, said that shipping companies had been using barges to transfer cargoes to Warri Port.
A shipper, Mr Jonathan Nicol, has urged the Federal Government to dredge the Escravos channel leading to Warri Port to allow large ships to sail into the port.
He told newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday that the draught of the Escravos channel could no longer accommodate large ships, adding that it could only accommodate trawlers.
Nicol, who is also the General Secretary of Shippers’ Association of Lagos State, said that shipping companies had been using barges to transfer cargoes to Warri Port.
He recalled that the Sapele Port used to be a base for exportation of timber in the 1960s before the avalanche of exporters of timber in the port disappeared.
Nicol said that Koko Port had also been abandoned because of the toxic wastes experience in 1988, saying that it would take about 25 years for the radioactive iodine to fizzle out.
“One would not expect that cargo movement should commence in Koko Port now.
“ Even, fishing vessels going to Koko Port is a risk because of the radioactive presence in that area,’’ he said.
On the delay experienced in cargo clearance in Onne port, Nicol said that this had to do with the location of the shipping companies in Port Harcourt, far away from Onne.
He said that freight forwarders had to travel for about two hours outside Onne Port to process their cargo documents with the shipping companies.
“Customs officers in Onne Port don’t delay. Goods can be cleared at Onne Port within 24 hours if the shipping companies are relocated near the port,’’ he said.
The shipper also suggested that government should repair the Onne–Port Harcourt road to facilitate movement of cargoes.
On Destination Inspection, Nicol said that the men of Nigeria Customs Service could improve on the scheme over time if government allowed them.
He urged government to allow customs to take over the contract, adding that the service was well-equipped to handle the scheme.
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