LAGOS – Mr Fred Akokhia, the Deputy National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) said on Wednesday services of terminal operators should be enhanced.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that improved manpower and infrastructure by the terminal operators would turn around the ports.
Akokhia said the operators had not kept to their pledge to turn around the ports when the concession was carried out in 2006.
• Cue in audio
“When they took over in 2006, a delegation went from NAGAFF to see their managing director then at the port.
“He was so proud to show us all the dilapidated structures, equipment and everything.
“He said: `this is the yard of all we inherited from NPA’ and that within a period of three months they are going to revolutionise.
“Let us ask now how they have complied with that.
“Till date, they don’t have enough equipment for lifting of containers to position for people.
“They have not trained enough people. When they are talking of infrastructure development in the port, they don’t have enough.
“At times, one driver, he is the only one that will be on duty. They may have about three cranes but if they don’t have one driver on each, how do they work?
“So, you find one driver working.
“But if they have three, it will be quicker. That area of development should be looked into,’’ Akokhia said.
• Cue out audio
He attributed delays being experienced in port operations to limited manpower to handle the volume of work at the port.
He said that some of the challenges at the port would have been surmounted if the relevant stakeholders were duly consulted before the port concession was done.
Akokhia said it was also erroneous to have left the concessionaires to begin operations without a defined regulator to monitor their activities from the onset. (NAN)
Association seeks manpower, infrastructure development at Nigerian ports
Loading...
