Shippers Council blames port congestion on poor rail system

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has blamed congestion at the port on the lack of a functional rail system for cargo evacuation.

The Executive Secretary of the council, Pius Akutah, disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos when the agency partnered with the Nigerian Railway Corporation on a one-day sensitisation meeting.

The meeting was themed, ‘Limitations to rail transportation of cargo in Nigeria,”

Akutah added that the lack of functional rail has also led to delays in offloading vessels and turnaround time, “payment of demurrage, increased number of trucks and tankers on the road, traffic gridlock and high cost of doing business.”

The ES said the meeting which also resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding, intends to enhance intermodal connection and connectivity.

“The MoU would also ensure the fast delivery of cargoes to and from the inland dry ports, cheaper and cost-effective means of transportation of goods to the hinterland especially to the IDPs (internally displaced persons) located at the hinterland.

“It will also facilitate the development of crucial transport infrastructure in the hinterland of Nigeria,” he added.

According to Akutah, rail movement of cargo can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption when compared to road movement of cargo.

“It is therefore hoped that at the end of this programme, challenges impinging the transportation of cargoes to the hinterland would be identified and solutions preferred,” Akutah stated.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Fidet Okhiria, lamented the unavailability of cargoes for the rail to carry.

“First of all, we have to have the goods to carry. Not where Mr A will have half a container and Mr. B with the same thing, it has to be properly harnessed. The bitter truth is that we are looking for the goods to carry,” the NRC boss stated.

Okhira added that the lack of cargo has led to delays in the loading of the wagons.

According to him, the wagons should be able to load within one hour, and once loaded, the rail moves.

“The last time we moved from Kano, I think, there were 17 containers; it took us time to gather those 17 containers from all over the land,” Okhira said.

The NRC boss urged the Manufactures Association of Nigeria to come together to move cargo faster and easier.

“And we also try to encourage members of MAN to come together so that we can move the goods in bulk,” he added.

Okhira expressed confidence that the MoU and the NSC would address some of the challenges mentioned.

According to him, moving the consignments by rail would make the goods in the market cheaper.

“If we move cargo to Kano at N1.2m by rail and the road is just N1.5m, what incentive do you need again?” he said.

The NRC boss added that the standard gauge can move 35 containers at a go, “but we can also make it 70 containers and use a double head, and the narrow gauge can move 20 containers at a go. So, we are looking for the goods to carry,”