Business
Experts Call For New Seaports
The need for new efficient sea ports has become imperative following the increasing volume of cargo traffic in Nigerian ports, especially in the western ports.
Available records shows that Nigeria, as the largest importing and exporting country in the West African sub-region handles about 70 per cent of shipping business in the region. Over 75 per cent is handled in Lagos ports, leaving the remaining 25 per cent to other ports in the country.
Experts say that the establishment of new ports would enable the country decongest the ports and move economic maritime related activities that are heavily concentrated in the western zone to other riverine areas in the country like South-South and South-East geopolitical zones.
The Tide gathered that Nigeria’s annual cargo through put of imports and exports has grown to about 100 million metric tonnes, thus the need to build better ports facilities that would accommodate bigger vessels in line with the increased cargo traffic.
The new ports, which expert say should not be less than 35 meters draft should be capable of taking bigger ships that moves cargo more efficiently than smaller vessels, so that economies of scale would be achieved in the industry and further reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
Speaking to The Tide, a retired Shipping of Panalpina World Shipping Limited, Ferdinand Toby, said that the present ports in the country are aging such that their facilities need to be replaced with efficient ones, adding that the development of Greenland ports would deepen Nigeria’s position as the maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
“Our ports, were built when the country’s population was below what it is at present, hence the need to develop properly and strategically positioned seaports in line with the present population size and the needs of maritime trade.
Vessels turnaround time for ships berthing in Nigerian ports have remained dismal, so it is time to build more efficient ports to reduce it by 70 per cent”, he added.
The best way to achieving development of Greenfield ports, according to experts, is through efficient public private partnership.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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