Despite making heavy losses estimated at N70 billion yearly in demurrage on Lagos ports, crippling traffic congestion caused by bad access roads and high cost of transportation, importers and exporters have refused to patronise other ports across the country, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There are about nine ports spread across four states in Nigeria, including five ports in Lagos; two in Delta State, Warri and Sapele; and one each in Rivers and Cross Rivers States.
But importers and exporters across the country only patronise Lagos ports, despite the huge losses they incur as a result of bad roads and high demurrage.
Importers who spoke to THISDAY cited insecurity, low draft and lack of commercial viability as the reasons for the non-patronage of the other ports.
They argued that shipping companies do not ship containers to other ports because they do not consider them viable.
They also added that importers across the country have no choice but to come to Lagos because other states are not commercially viable enough to attract shipping companies.
According to them, they incur loss of over N70 billion annually on transportation cost and demurrage on empty containers and cargo stay-time and rent demurrage in Lagos ports.
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