THE Nigeria Shipping Association, SAN, yesterday, lamented that the inefficiencies currently being experienced by importers in Nigerian ports have brought about added cargo costs.
Speaking at the end of its monthly meeting in Lagos, the Chairman of the group, Boma Alabi, said that shipping is a two-way business that should cost less in terms of time and charges.
Alabi explained that because the Nigerian ports are revenue driven, the ports have become more expensive than other ports across the West African sub-region.
She also stated that members of SAN are not short-term investors adding that they are here for the long term and they are here for good.
She said: “There are so many agencies operating in the ports and we have to follow and obey whatever regulations they put in place that is our reality.
“Inefficiency and high charges do not rest with SAN, if I collect the charges because that is what the regulator has said I should do, I will collect and pass them on to whoever it is that has put the regulation in place.
“Most of what we do is the containerized movement of goods both in and out of Nigeria. Shipping is important for import and equally important for export. From our perspective, we want to see the export grow because Nobody would want to bring in a full vessel and go back with an empty vessel. So we encourage exports because it benefits us, it benefits the Nigerian economy.
“In the series of talks we would have, we will zero in on certain areas where we can bring in more efficiency so that it cost us less to export our goods. Cost us less in time, cost us less in wastage because if you spend too much time in exporting your goods, particularly perishable goods.
“Ports in West Africa are more efficient than ours. Cotonou, Takoradi, and others get more patronage than Nigerian ports. How can we make our ports more efficient?”
