Adamu Ya’u, President, Senior Staff Association of
Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, has urged the Federal
Government to empower Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to expand infrastructure
at the nation’s harbours.
Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, has urged the Federal
Government to empower Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to expand infrastructure
at the nation’s harbours.
Speaking
with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, Ya’u said the
concession of Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports had stripped NPA of powers to
enforce certain rules to develop the ports.
with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, Ya’u said the
concession of Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports had stripped NPA of powers to
enforce certain rules to develop the ports.
“For
instance, terminal operators after the concessioning, carved its own
demarcation. It is the responsibility of the ports authority to do that.
instance, terminal operators after the concessioning, carved its own
demarcation. It is the responsibility of the ports authority to do that.
“With
the type of fencing and demarcation one sees at Apapa and Tin- Can ports, if
the authority says it wants to carry out an expansion, how would it carry it
out? ” Ya’u asked.
the type of fencing and demarcation one sees at Apapa and Tin- Can ports, if
the authority says it wants to carry out an expansion, how would it carry it
out? ” Ya’u asked.
He
explained that before the concessioning, there were rail lines in the ports.
Containers were evacuated through rail from Lagos to Kaduna and Kano Inland
Container Terminals.
explained that before the concessioning, there were rail lines in the ports.
Containers were evacuated through rail from Lagos to Kaduna and Kano Inland
Container Terminals.
“Unfortunately
after the concessioning there were no traces of the rail lines in the ports any
more, they were removed,” he said.
after the concessioning there were no traces of the rail lines in the ports any
more, they were removed,” he said.
Ya’u
urged the government to give the executive management of NPA the power to
expand port infrastructure.
urged the government to give the executive management of NPA the power to
expand port infrastructure.
He said that Boundary and Ajegunle areas in Lagos
should be relocated to enable government achieve the port’s reforms that would
meet international standards.
should be relocated to enable government achieve the port’s reforms that would
meet international standards.
On
the gridlock on Apapa road, Ya’u alleged that the presidential taskforce had
turned the perennial gridlock to a commercial venture.
the gridlock on Apapa road, Ya’u alleged that the presidential taskforce had
turned the perennial gridlock to a commercial venture.
“A
truck that should enter the port within an hour, will take seven to 10 days to
enter the port; in fact, you have to pay heavily before entering the ports.
truck that should enter the port within an hour, will take seven to 10 days to
enter the port; in fact, you have to pay heavily before entering the ports.
“When you stay at the waterfront within Tin-Can and
Apapa ports, you will see naval officers piloting trucks into the ports. The
traffic is not inside the port but from outside the port.
Apapa ports, you will see naval officers piloting trucks into the ports. The
traffic is not inside the port but from outside the port.
“If
a professional is given opportunity to clear the port access road, it will be
done,” he said.
a professional is given opportunity to clear the port access road, it will be
done,” he said.
Ya’u
said that NPA had started the dredging of Warri and Calabar ports, saying that
cargo clearing activities are ongoing at Warri port.
said that NPA had started the dredging of Warri and Calabar ports, saying that
cargo clearing activities are ongoing at Warri port.
He
urged shippers to make use of the available facility to reduce cost of doing
business.
urged shippers to make use of the available facility to reduce cost of doing
business.
