HON. NNAJI CALLS FOR URGENT RECONSTRUCTION OF LAGOS PORTS

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbour, has stressed the effect for the immediate reconstruction and rehabilitation of the nation’s ports to put the disintegrating quay walls and their berthing areas in shape. Hon. Nnaji who stated these at the weekend in Lagos while addressing journalists on the outcome of his committee’s oversight inspection visit to Tin Can Island Apapa Ports observed that port quay walls and berths were constructed between sixty to seventy years ago and therefore were overdue for reconstruction.

This dilapidation according to him, “has to be fixed and done urgently, otherwise, it can impede developments at the terminal and even lead to a total collapse of the quay walls with catastrophic consequences”. The committee chairman described the over sight visit as very revealing noting that it offered the members hindsight into the challenges facing the Lagos ports which includes dilapidated infrastructure and lack of access roads and rail links. He assured that the National Assembly would give the necessary support to the Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA) to find a way to fast-track the fixing of the challenges to guarantee optimality and efficient running of the ports.

Hon. Nnaji disclosed that, “in these regards, we as a committee have made observations covering certain aspects that will lead to reduced vessel turn-around-time, as well as cargo dwell-time in our ports.” The committee further raised concerns on the issue of channel management, and suggested the need to provide substantive platforms for the management of the Calabar and Escravos respectively noting that, “when put in place, it will invariably increase the revenue, as ship traffic in those ports will be on the rise.” The House members visited the various concession berths in Lagos ports and singled out the Five Star Logistics Limited and ENL for failure to address the dilapidating states of their quay walls

Hon. Nnaji also frowned at the current system of physical inspection by customs stressing that it was definitely not sustainable adding that “ it results in delays , cargo congestion at the ports , lack of transparency in determining proper contents of containers.” He equally observed that it could lead to revenue leakages for both the Ports Authority and Nigerian Customs Service, due to possible false and under declaration of goods.

“Scanning of containers in our ports must be adopted and imminently too. It is the practice everywhere so we can’t pretend we don’t know that it is the way to go. Scanning services must be provided.” He emphasized. The Managing Director of NPA Mohammed Bello Koko had before conducting the legislators round told them that, “the cost of maintaining Nigerian ports was extremely high because they are categorized as river ports”

The NPA boss further informed the committee that the new initiative being envisioned was to ensure aggressive development of the ports through government funding, private and hybrid funding to achieve a fully automated ports in the nearest future.