Concessioning is very good. It is one of the best reforms handled by the federal government that Nigerians are benefiting from. The reform eases clearance of goods at the seaport with operations getting simpler. Government should work on demurrages and cost that are unnecessary but operationally it is one of the beautiful thing undertaken by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
Also, government should open up the access roads, especially Apapa and Tin Can. People going to the port to work face a lot of challenges getting to their work place. Government should also relocate the tank farms because they have caused a lot of challenges.
Felix Uwuagbu
The reform is going on as planned but there are areas the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have to work on. Like every project, they need to go back to the drawing board to amend and do a lot of better things that will allow the operation of the concessionaires seamless and to be a better place. But overall, the concessioning has helped the economy. There has been increase in cargo throughput. Look at terminal development and facilities being developed by terminal operators, also institutions being strengthened and that has helped the country.
Femi Jegede
So far, port concessioning has been beneficial and there has been development all over the ports compared to what we have before the concessioning.
The terminal operators have invested a lot at the port. The investment have led to increase in income and cargo throughput and this has also allowed them invest in the terminals. But, the terminal operators should invest more in equipment for easy loading of containers. Government should also see to how they can provide holding bay for trucks to free the port access roads from truckers who park on the road.
Ugochukwu Nnadi
Port concessioning has been a success. It has helped improve the cargo throughput and bring about a new face for the port industry. Also, concessioning brought about competition among terminal operators and acquisition of state of the art equipment.
I think the government should be given a thump up for initiating this noble idea because we all know how the ports used to be prior to concessioning of the port. So, concessioning is progressive, progress, progress for the port industry.
Tunji Obagbo
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