Inter-modalism ups ante at Apapa Port today
… As Railway Corporation begins container haulage at APMT
Beginning today, inter-modalism in the haulage of containerised cargoes across the country will receive a much-needed fillip at Nigeria’s premier port, the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, as the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) formally flags off the evacuation of containers by rail from the facilities of APM Terminals Apapa Limited to the depots of Inland Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL) in Kaduna and Kano, respectively.
The rail haulage is expected to kick-start with 20 wagons carrying 20 to 40 containers to be moved per three trip weekly.
The NRC Managing Director, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, explained that the Corporation had expanded capacity in order to effectively handle the new cargo service.
This include the acquisition of four units of 1,800 horsepower locomotives and 100-ton telescopic cranes. The new service, according to Sijuwade, was in line with the new NRC strategy of steadily and continuously increasing its sphere of operations.
“The commencement of the container traffic will, no doubt, help in decongesting the ports as well as help in facilitating the establishment and use of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) along the track corridors.
“The container traffic is a strategy demonstrating the carriage ability and readiness of the Corporation to further enhance the development of the nation’s economy and to enter into partnership with organisations that require the services of the Corporation,” the NRC boss said.
He added: “Single train haulage of 20 containers is equivalent to 20 trailers or 40 trucks on the road and this goes a long way to improve the economic, health, safety and environmental sustainability of the nation.”
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