The Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria {MAN} Mr. Jide A. Mike has called on the federal government to provide a functional rail system for the movement of bulk cargoes from the sea ports. The MAN boss stated this while speaking at a workshop organized by Port -Anti Corruption Standing Committee on International Best Practices and the Nigerian Port Environment, which took place in Lagos recently.



According to him, priority attention should be given to improved network of roads around port areas to allow free flow of traffic. "Reports available to us indicate improvement, although a lot needs to be done to achieve the target of a 24 hour cargo delivery. Some concessionaries have since taken laudable steps that would enhance efficient port administration", the MAN boss said. He identified some of the steps taken so far by concessionaries to include gradual reduction in the cost of clearing cargo at the ports; reduction in turnaround period of shipscarriers for berthing to discharge cargo; reduction in block stacking of containers and the reduction in the number and elimination of about 10,000 illegal residents from the port. He noted that new computerization hardware are being regularly introduced and installed for modernization of port activities, adding that more handling equipment have been installed.



Mr. Jide Mike however noted that despite all these steps being taken so far by port operators in order to maximize the benefits derivable from the Ports reforms, port operations in the country is still being riddled with a number of problems. Some of these problems , according to him are corruption, security , inadequate provision for increasing Export trade, lack of knowledge for Export of perishable goods, Dock labour problems and the lack of enabling legal instrument as well as lack of co-ordination of activities.

He said that the major impediment resulted from overlapping functions adding that Port operators operate on extant laws. "Enabling legal and regulatory instruments arising from on-going reforms process to guide port operations and operators are still awaiting passage by the National Assembly. Stakeholders at the Ports work at cross -purposes with each protecting its own interest by taking actions leading to destabilization on the other players who similarly had to react with their own programme such as the imposition of levies, charges and taxes", Mr. Jide Mike said.