The Joint Council of Seaports Truckers (JCOST) has lamented that there has been a massive drop in haulage business in Lagos ports, attributing it to some of the policies affecting maritime operations.
JCOST lamented that dry cargo haulage has dropped since the beginning of the year, but also noted that, conversely, vehicles lifting wet cargoes are making fortunes out of the oil and gas sector.
It also stated that while the oil and gas sector truck owners are lifting products, the maritime truck owners have few cargoes to lift from the ports.
Financial Secretary of the haulage association, Alhaji Isiaka Olalere in a chat with Auto Port Weekly in Lagos last week stated that vehicles operating within the seaports do not have cargoes to lift because importation of dry cargo has dropped.
"Demand is more than supply in the maritime sector haulage business, the normal price we use to collect is no more because demand is higher than supply"
"The operators that is owners of the truck do not cooperate with the regulatory body on freight rate because the maritime truck owners don't have much to lift, therefore they have no option than to reduce the cost of lifting containers from the ports"
According to him, the tanker owners have their price fixed and payment is made before a cargo can exit the jetties.
He urged the new government to put in place policies to encourage importation of goods in order for truck owners in the sector to remain in business.
Olalere maintained that the government needs to encourage Nigeria importers by way of putting measures to ameliorate the challenges of the maritime business.
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