By Muyiwa Lucas
The Executive Director, SIFAX Off-Dock, Captain Ibraheem Olugbade, has urged stakeholders in the maritime sector to adopt barge transportation for the movement of consignments from the Lagos ports.
Olugbade said the challenges of congestion and traffic caused by bad access roads would reduce, if credible alternative to road transportation like barge, is encouraged by shipping lines and agents.
He said: “Shipping lines and agents should be encouraged to key into the use of barges for transfer in view of the poor state of the port access road.
Aggressive transfer of cargoes through barges to the various off docks in Lagos will help decongest the port in a way and help the port reach its maximum potentials.”
He urged the Nigerian Shippers Council and other relevant agencies to execute the policy of establishing inland container depots in various parts of the country with more vigour as this will provide a very important leeway for the decongestion of the ports.
“The idea of floating inland container depots or off docks in various parts of the country is a very good initiative by the government.
Although it is yet to yield its desired result, there is a need to pursue its implementation with more commitment by all stakeholders.
Off docks are still very much relevant in the maritime business model. They will always help to decongest the ports and bring about efficiency in port operations,” he said.
Olugbade further noted that SIFAX Group’s belief in off- dock as a good port-decongestion strategy is responsible for the company’s massive investment in its off- dock facilities and acquisition of new ones in various locations across Lagos. This, he said, would enable agents to experience easier clearing and faster consignment movement.
On the indiscriminate siting of off-docks in Lagos, Olugbade urged government agencies to enforce the policies that guide the off- dock location in Lagos State to avoid environmental hazards.
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