The cost of transporting cargoes from Lagos ports would remain high
unless the gridlock in the road network is addressed, the Vice Chairman,
National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) Abdullahi Inuwa,
has said.
unless the gridlock in the road network is addressed, the Vice Chairman,
National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) Abdullahi Inuwa,
has said.
Inuwa, the NARTO official
in charge of Dry Cargo Section, Tin-Can Island Port, who stated this in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the law of demand and
supply was responsible for the hike in cost of cargo transportation.
in charge of Dry Cargo Section, Tin-Can Island Port, who stated this in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the law of demand and
supply was responsible for the hike in cost of cargo transportation.
He said the cost of moving
cargo has risen to as high as N700,000 up from N120, 000 and N80,000 per
container, some months ago within Lagos, adding that with the Apapa gridlock,
accessibility to the ports by truckers is now an uphill task.
cargo has risen to as high as N700,000 up from N120, 000 and N80,000 per
container, some months ago within Lagos, adding that with the Apapa gridlock,
accessibility to the ports by truckers is now an uphill task.
He said: “The establishment
of holding bays to accommodate trucks and articulated vehicles before loading
will put an end to the perennial gridlock. Owners of tank farms should provide
facilities that will accommodate trucks coming into their facilities to load.
of holding bays to accommodate trucks and articulated vehicles before loading
will put an end to the perennial gridlock. Owners of tank farms should provide
facilities that will accommodate trucks coming into their facilities to load.
“We can have the private
sector coming up with parks that some of the truck drivers can easily drive
into and wait for loading, instead of parking along the streets in Apapa,
thereby causing traffic congestion.
sector coming up with parks that some of the truck drivers can easily drive
into and wait for loading, instead of parking along the streets in Apapa,
thereby causing traffic congestion.
“Through this process, the
next truck to load in the tank farms and terminals will be called through
electronic call-up system. This method will reduce the gridlock.”
next truck to load in the tank farms and terminals will be called through
electronic call-up system. This method will reduce the gridlock.”
According to him,
transporters have to contend with so many problems before loading, including
extortion along the ports’ axis.
transporters have to contend with so many problems before loading, including
extortion along the ports’ axis.
He, however, said it was
regrettable that the end users of the transported goods paid for the various
charges.
regrettable that the end users of the transported goods paid for the various
charges.
Inuwa urged the Federal
Government to urgently look into the issues and come up with lasting solutions
to save the masses from high cost of goods in the market.
Government to urgently look into the issues and come up with lasting solutions
to save the masses from high cost of goods in the market.
NAN.
